Human rights
Background information
In May 2020, Leigh Day notified the Boards of Petra Diamonds Limited (“PDL”) and Williamson Diamonds Limited (“WDL”) that it had issued claim forms in the High Court of England and Wales on behalf of 32 anonymous individuals in relation to alleged breaches of human rights, personal injuries and deaths suffered at and surrounding the Mine, arising from the security operations. Additionally, in November 2020 RAID published a report outlining similar allegations, during the same period. Leigh Day subsequently expanded the number of anonymous claimants to 72 while RAID expanded the scope of their own allegations.
WDL and Petra have taken the human rights allegations mentioned above extremely seriously. They have sought to gain a full understanding of the allegations through an independent investigation, with the aim of supporting the provision of balanced and fair remedy, in the interest of all parties, and to put in place preventative measures. Petra formed an independent Board Sub-Committee comprised entirely of independent Non-executive Directors to oversee the matters and undertake an investigation into the allegations. The Sub-Committee was supported in its investigation by the specialist external investigator Control Risks, in conjunction with lawyers Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP.
On 12 May 2021 Petra announced that it had reached a settlement, on a no admission of liability basis, in relation to claims brought in London by Leigh Day, on behalf of the anonymous claimants, in relation to alleged breaches of human rights, associated with third-party security operations, within the SML.
On 14 May 2025 Petra announced the sale of its entire shareholding in the entity that holds its interest in Williamson Diamonds Limited (WDL), together with all shareholder loans owed to Petra, to Pink Diamonds Investments Limited (Pink Diamonds) for a headline consideration of up to US$16 million.
This transaction was completed following the receipt of approval from the Tanzanian Fair Competition Commission. This transaction represented an important milestone, bringing the mine back under consolidated Tanzanian ownership.
Please see below Petra’s public disclosures regarding the allegations detailed above.
- 10 December 2024 – Independent Monitors’ Third Summary Report on the IGM*
- 28 May 2024 – Independent Monitors’ Second Summary Report on the IGM
- 20 February 2024 – Williamson Mine – website update H1 FY24
- 06 November 2023 – Williamson Mine: Update on IGM and Community Projects, FY 2023
- 10 October 2023 – Independent Monitors’ First Summary Report on the IGM
- 7 July 2023 – Income Generating Projects Report
- 21 February 2023 – Williamson Mine: Update on IGM and Community Projects for Q2 FY 2023
- 30 November 2022 – Williamson Mine: Update on IGM and Community Projects for Q1 FY 2023
- 19 July 2022 – Williamson Mine: Update on IGM and Community Projects for Q4 FY 2022
- 20 April 2022 – Update on remedial programmes at the Williamson Mine
- 26 October 2021 – Update on remedial programmes at the Williamson Mine
- 12 May 2021 – Findings of the Independent Board Sub Committee
- 12 May 2021 – Findings of the Independent Board Sub Committee – Swahili version
- 12 May 2021 – Settlement of Human Rights claims at Williamson Mine
- 30 March 2021 – Update Regarding the Publication of Report on Williamson Mine
- 25 March 2021 – Response to report published by RAID
- 9 February 2021 – Update regarding allegations of human rights abuses at the Williamson Mine in Tanzania
- 12 November 2020 – Statement regarding allegations of human rights abuses from RAID
- 9 September 2020 – Statement regarding allegations of human rights abuses at the Williamson Mine in Tanzania
- *Kiswahili translations of this report and the Independent Monitors’ First and Second Summary Reports on the IGM will be shared here in due course
Please see below the responses Petra has sent to RAID regarding the allegations.
Additional Documents
On 7 November 2022, Petra announced the failure of the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) wall at Williamson which resulted in flooding away from the pit and extended into certain areas outside of the mine lease area.
Significant work has been undertaken to contain the failure, determine the extent of the social and environmental impact and carry out remediation. An investigation into the root cause of the incident is also underway.
Local Community
Whilst no fatalities or serious injuries were reported, the livelihoods of a number of community members were affected. A variety of short-term measures were initially taken, followed by an assessment of the impact on the surrounding communities and longer-term remediation measures. An Entitlement Framework has been developed that enables community members impacted by the TSF failure to be appropriately compensated, with Phase 1 and 2 compensation payments having been made.
Environment
Environmental work to date confirms the tailings material which flowed out of the TSF is inert. WDL has taken significant steps to carry out international best practice Environmental Assessments and continues to engage with Tanzania’s environmental regulator in this regard.
Technical and Production
A new TSF has been constructed, which received the required permits and complies with the GISTM standards. Production resumed at WDL in July 2023, with a steady ramp-up currently underway.
An investigation is being conducted to determine the root cause of the TSF failure, with the final report anticipated at the end of CY 2023.
Financial
Remediation costs relating to the incident were incurred during FY 2023 and additional costs will be incurred going forward. In FY 2023, US$8.3 million of costs have been incurred and a further US$2.4 million of costs, comprising management’s best estimate based on the current information available, have been provided for ongoing remediation costs. In addition, US$5.2 million of accelerated depreciation was recognised in the Year to fully write down assets damaged resulting from the TSF failure.
The remediation costs comprise establishing the root cause of the failure, humanitarian relief to the affected community, livelihood and environmental restoration and costs to repair.
Further information
Please refer to the Company’s FY 2023 Annual and Sustainability reports for more detailed information on the TSF failure and remediation process:
Petra’s Tailings Management and its commitment to the Global International Standard on Tailings Management can be found here:
For more information please see our updates below:
- 18 July 2023 – Update regarding TSF wall breach at Williamson
- 21 February 2023 – Update regarding TSF wall breach at Williamson
- 17 January 2022 – Update regarding Tailings Storage Facility wall breach at Williamson in Tanzania
- 30 November 2022 – Update regarding Tailings Storage Facility wall breach at Williamson in Tanzania
- 10 November 2022 – Update regarding Tailings Storage Facility wall breach at Williamson in Tanzania
- 7 November 2022 – Tailings Storage Facility wall breach at Williamson in Tanzania
This page provides further information about the parcel of 71,654.54 carats from the Williamson mine in Tanzania, which is currently blocked from export.
On 13 December 2021, Petra announced that it had reached agreement on a Framework Agreement in principle with the Government of Tanzania relating to the operations of the Williamson mine. As part of the Framework Agreement, the Government of Tanzania has agreed to provide financial support to Williamson Diamonds Limited through the allocation of the proceeds of the sale of the blocked diamond parcel towards the restart of operations at the Williamson Mine.
- Framework Agreement with the Government of Tanzania – 13 December 2021
- Update on blocked Williamson parcel – published 19 January 2018
- W1 Certificate
This certificate was issued for the Williamson parcel by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (Diamond and Gemstone Valuation Unit-TANSORT) in Tanzania. Note that the certificate refers to a ‘Provisional Value’ for the Williamson parcel, rather than a ‘Final Value’.
rther to the sealing of the parcel by the MEM (Ministry of Energy and Minerals) and the TMAA (Tanzania Minerals Audit Agency), a Kimberley Process certificate was issued on behalf of the United Republic of Tanzania by the Commissioner for Minerals at the Central Western Zone Office in Tanzania.
This is Petra’s consignment invoice which accompanies the parcel and confirms the conflict-free source of the diamonds. Note that the ‘Provisional Value’ and volume for the parcel matches those listed on the Diamond Valuation and Kimberley Process certificates. The invoice refers to seals by the TRA (Tanzania Revenue Authority) and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, as well as the Company’s own seals.
Receipts confirming the Company’s payment of the provisional royalty and associated fees relating to the diamond parcel.