Strengthening Diamond Traceability and Transparency from Botswana to the Global Market.

Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) marks a major milestone by bringing its rough natural diamonds to the Tracr blockchain platform, offering customers trusted provenance and enhanced transparency. This transformative step empowers customers with verifiable information about the origin and journey of each diamond stone. As a result, ODC will play a key role in significantly increasing the volume of traceable rough diamonds available worldwide.

Okavango Diamond Company (ODC), a Botswana-based rough diamond marketing company, and Debswana Diamond Company, one of the world’s leading diamond producers, today announced the onboarding of ODC’s rough diamond supply onto Tracr, a blockchain-based platform. This marks a significant milestone in providing information on provenance for ODC’s rough diamond supply. ODC, wholly owned by the Government of Botswana, plays a key role in offering independently marketed rough diamonds from the country’s production to the global market. This latest initiative reinforces ODC’s commitment to transparency and responsible sourcing; and aligns with the evolving regulatory landscape, including G7 import requirements, which increasingly emphasize traceability.

From the beginning of 2025, ODC has commenced registering rough diamonds in the 3-6gr and 2-10ct size ranges on Tracr, significantly increasing the availability of traceable diamonds from Botswana. By leveraging this innovative blockchain technology, ODC ensures that its buyers and partners can access immutable records of provenance, strengthening confidence in Botswana’s natural diamonds.

Debswana’s Supporting Role in the Value Chain

As the world’s leading natural diamond producer by value and second largest by volume, Debswana Diamond Company, a joint venture between the Government of Botswana and De Beers Group, plays a foundational role in ensuring the integrity of Botswana’s diamonds from the point of extraction. Since the signing of the new Debswana Sales Agreement between the Government of Botswana and De Beers, ODC sources 30% of Debswana’s total production for independent sale, with this allocation set to increase to 40% after five years.

Recognizing the growing importance of provenance assurance, Debswana fully supports ODC’s participation in Tracr by providing the necessary supply information to facilitate seamless integration onto the platform. This collaboration between Botswana’s largest producer and its dedicated marketing arm underscores the nation’s commitment to responsible diamond mining, ethical sourcing, consumer confidence and long-term industry sustainability.

With ODC’s rough diamonds now registered on Tracr, each diamond will have a permanent, immutable record of its origin, reinforcing confidence in its provenance. This advancement not only enhances transparency but also ensures that the unique story of Botswana’s natural diamonds is carried further downstream. It provides an opportunity to highlight the positive impact of the diamond industry on local communities, showcasing how Botswana’s natural wealth contributes to sustainable development and national transformation and progress.

[Mmetla Masire, Managing Director, Okavango Diamond Company]
"At Okavango Diamond Company, we believe that every diamond carries more than just its natural brilliance—it carries the story of its origin, its journey, and the people whose lives it touches along the way. By joining the Tracr platform, we are strengthening our commitment to transparency and ensuring that Botswana’s diamonds are recognised for the ethical legacy they represent. This step is not just about technology; it’s about trust, responsibility, and shaping a future where provenance is as valuable as the diamond itself."

[Andrew Maatla Motsomi, Managing Director, Debswana Diamond Company:]
"As one of the world’s leading natural diamond producer, Debswana is committed to upholding the highest standards of responsible mining. We are proud to support ODC in this important initiative, ensuring that Botswana’s diamonds continue to meet the highest standards of provenance assurance. Tracr provides a critical tool for reinforcing trust in natural diamonds, and we look forward to continuing our role in strengthening the integrity of Botswana’s diamond value chain."

[Wes Tucker, CEO, Tracr:]
"We are delighted that Okavango Diamond Company has joined the Tracr platform. This is an exciting step forward as we continue to expand traceability across the diamond industry and increase the volume of supply on Tracr. We continue to have positive discussions with a range of diamond producers and suppliers, and we look forward to growing the share of global diamond supply that we trace on the platform. With regulators’ focus on provenance assurance only set to increase, and opportunities for differentiating diamonds based on their origin only set to grow, now is the time for diamond companies to explore how best to provide traceability.”

By joining Tracr, ODC is reinforcing Botswana’s leadership in diamond traceability while strengthening the country’s ability to meet the evolving demands of global markets. Debswana’s foundational role in providing responsibly sourced diamonds ensures that initiatives like this are backed by a strong commitment to transparency, sustainability, and national development.