Moscow: Diamond giant Alrosa is set to prospect for diamonds in Zimbabwe with DTZ-OZGEO, a Zimbabwe-Russia joint venture company.

Reuters quoted Russia’s trade and industry minister Denis Manturov as saying that Alrosa and DTZ-OZGEO would prospect for diamonds throughout Zimbabwe.

Currently diamonds were being mined in the south of the country by private company River Ranch, in central Zimbabwe by Rio Tinto and in the eastern Marange area.

“I would like to point out that Alrosa has come up with a proposal to the Zimbabwean side to extend expert assistance to Zimbabwe in the field of organising the system of sorting, valuation and marketing of its diamonds,” Manturov said.

He said Alrosa was also planning to assist Zimbabwe in sorting and evaluating of its diamonds.

Apart from diamonds, Moscow was also eyeing a joint platinum mining operation outside the capital Harare.