Firestone Diamonds
Corporate brand
UnclaimedFirestone Diamonds is a United Kingdom-based diamond-mining company whose principal asset was the Liqhobong mine in Lesotho, with additional interests in Botswana.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Firestone Diamonds plc was a United Kingdom-based diamond-mining company focused on the exploration, development and operation of kimberlite assets in southern Africa. Its principal operating asset was the Liqhobong diamond mine in Lesotho, a large-scale mine located in the Maluti Mountains in the northern part of the country. The project was operated through Liqhobong Mining Development Company (Proprietary) Limited, in which Firestone held a 75% interest while the government of Lesotho held the remaining 25%. Firestone acquired its interest in Liqhobong through the September 2010 acquisition of Kopane Diamond Developments plc. The transaction provided Firestone with a strategically important Lesotho asset and shifted the company toward development of a producing diamond operation. Liqhobong is situated at the head of the Liqhobong Valley and is characterized by a high-altitude, mountainous operating environment. The mine became the company's principal asset and the central focus of its operational and financing activities. The company also held the BK11 kimberlite mine in Botswana's Orapa kimberlite field. BK11 lies close to major diamond operations, including De Beers' Orapa and Letlhakane mines and Lucara Diamond Corporation's Karowe mine. Initial pit-design work indicated an estimated extractable kimberlite volume of approximately 12 million tonnes at an average grade of about eight carats per hundred tonnes, implying roughly 0.9 million contained carats on the stated assumptions. Firestone began work on the first phase of a BK11 processing plant in 2010, but the facility was placed on care and maintenance in February 2012 after it failed to liberate diamonds successfully. A second phase, involving additional crushing circuits and electrical infrastructure, had not been implemented in the reference material. Firestone Diamonds was listed on London's Alternative Investment Market, or AIM. Its corporate strategy involved advancing diamond resources through mine development, plant construction and operational optimization, while also evaluating strategic alternatives for non-core or underperforming assets. In relation to BK11, the board considered options including disposal and a potential joint venture. The reference material also records that BK11 was subsequently acquired by Tango Mining, a TSX Venture-listed junior mining company. Leadership changed during the company's later operating period. In May 2018, Firestone announced that Paul Bosma would succeed Stuart Brown as chief executive officer on 1 July 2018. In 2021, Rob De Pretto was appointed chief executive officer, succeeding Bosma, who left the company after seven years. De Pretto's previous professional experience included executive and leadership positions at Diamcor Mining, Anglo American Research and De Beers. The available reference material does not establish a current operating status, a present corporate owner, a current website, or a definitive post-2021 corporate outcome. Accordingly, Firestone Diamonds is best described here as a diamond-mining corporate brand with historical operations and interests in Lesotho and Botswana, while its current status requires verification.
History
Firestone Diamonds developed as a publicly listed diamond-mining company based in the United Kingdom and operating in southern Africa. Its corporate model centered on acquiring, developing and operating kimberlite diamond resources rather than selling finished jewellery or consumer products. The company's principal asset became the Liqhobong diamond mine in Lesotho, while its Botswana portfolio included the BK11 kimberlite mine. A major turning point came in September 2010, when Firestone acquired Kopane Diamond Developments plc. The acquisition brought Liqhobong into Firestone's portfolio and gave the company a substantial operating and development platform in Lesotho. Liqhobong is located in the Maluti Mountains at the head of the Liqhobong Valley in northern Lesotho. Operations were conducted through Liqhobong Mining Development Company (Proprietary) Limited, with Firestone owning 75% and the government of Lesotho owning 25%. The ownership arrangement reflected the mine's importance to the Lesotho economy and the partnership structure under which the project was operated. Firestone's second important asset was BK11, a kimberlite mine in Botswana's Orapa kimberlite field. The property is located near major diamond mines, including De Beers' Orapa and Letlhakane operations and Lucara Diamond Corporation's Karowe mine. Initial pit-design work described a potential extraction volume of approximately 12 million tonnes of kimberlite at an average grade of around eight carats per hundred tonnes, or approximately 0.9 million contained carats under the stated estimates. Firestone commenced the first phase of a processing plant in August 2010. However, the plant was placed on care and maintenance in February 2012 because it was unable to liberate diamonds effectively. The proposed second phase included secondary and tertiary crushing circuits and a connection to existing electrical infrastructure, but the reference material does not state that this phase was completed. The difficulties at BK11 led the board to consider strategic alternatives for the Botswana operation, including disposal or a joint venture. The asset was subsequently acquired by Tango Mining, a TSX Venture-listed junior mining company. This represented a change in the composition of Firestone's Botswana interests and illustrated the company's broader need to prioritize assets and allocate capital between exploration, mine development and operating activities. Firestone Diamonds was listed on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market. Its public-company identity was closely associated with the development of Liqhobong and the technical and financial challenges involved in bringing diamond projects into production. The company also underwent senior management changes. In May 2018, it announced that Paul Bosma would replace Stuart Brown as chief executive officer effective 1 July 2018. In 2021, Rob De Pretto became chief executive, succeeding Bosma, who departed after seven years with the company. De Pretto was reported to have held executive or leadership roles at Diamcor Mining, Anglo American Research and De Beers. The supplied sources do not provide enough information to determine Firestone Diamonds' current legal status, present ownership, active mines, or whether it continues to operate under the same corporate structure. The historical record supports describing it as a UK-based, AIM-listed diamond-mining company with major operations and development interests in Lesotho and Botswana.
- 2021
Rob De Pretto appointed chief executive
[1]Rob De Pretto succeeded Paul Bosma as chief executive officer.
- 2018
Paul Bosma became chief executive
[1]Paul Bosma succeeded Stuart Brown as chief executive officer on 1 July 2018.
- 2012
BK11 placed on care and maintenance
[1]The BK11 plant was placed on care and maintenance after processing problems prevented effective diamond liberation.
- 2010
Acquisition of Kopane Diamond Developments
[1]Firestone acquired Kopane Diamond Developments plc, obtaining its interest in the Liqhobong diamond project in Lesotho.
- 2010
BK11 plant construction began
[1]The first phase of the processing plant at the BK11 kimberlite mine in Botswana commenced.
Products and positioning
A southern African diamond-mining company focused on developing and operating kimberlite resources, particularly the Liqhobong mine in Lesotho.
Diamond mine
Liqhobong Diamond Mine
Firestone's principal diamond asset in Lesotho, located in the Maluti Mountains in the northern part of the country. The mine is operated through Liqhobong Mining Development Company (Proprietary) Limited, which is 75% owned by Firestone and 25% owned by the government of Lesotho. The project was acquired through Firestone's 2010 purchase of Kopane Diamond Developments.
Diamond mine
BK11 Kimberlite Mine
A kimberlite diamond project in Botswana's Orapa kimberlite field, situated near the Orapa, Letlhakane and Karowe mines. Initial design work indicated approximately 12 million tonnes of extractable kimberlite at an average grade of eight carats per hundred tonnes. Its first processing-plant phase was placed on care and maintenance in 2012 after liberation problems, and the asset was later acquired by Tango Mining.
Brand decisions
2021
Further chief executive successionOtherBackground
The company changed chief executive after Paul Bosma's departure.
Action taken
Rob De Pretto was appointed chief executive officer.
Aftermath
The available reference material does not describe subsequent operational or corporate developments.
2018
Chief executive successionOtherBackground
Firestone announced a planned change in senior leadership.
Action taken
Paul Bosma was appointed to succeed Stuart Brown as chief executive from 1 July 2018.
Aftermath
Bosma led the company until Rob De Pretto succeeded him in 2021.
2012
BK11 placed on care and maintenanceStrategyBackground
The first phase of the BK11 processing plant could not successfully liberate diamonds.
Action taken
Firestone suspended the plant's operation and placed it on care and maintenance.
Aftermath
The planned second processing phase remained to be implemented, while the board considered disposal or joint-venture alternatives for the Botswana operation.
2010
Acquisition of Kopane Diamond DevelopmentsM&ABackground
Firestone sought to expand its diamond-mining portfolio and acquire the Liqhobong project in Lesotho.
Action taken
The company acquired Kopane Diamond Developments plc in September 2010.
Aftermath
Liqhobong became Firestone's principal asset and was operated through a company jointly owned by Firestone and the Lesotho government.
Recent events
Sources2 sources
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