Botswana Diamonds has commenced a two to three month exploration project on its diamond reconnaissance licence in the Cameroonian rainforest.

The aim of the programme is to identify the presence and extent of the diamond bearing host rock that defines the nearby Mobilong diamond field which lies to the north of the Botswana Diamonds licence area.

The project, which will take place in a remote area of Cameroon, will include detailed geological mapping, using traverses and cut-lines on a regular grid, accompanied by excavation of observation pits and the collecting of geochemical and rock samples for further analysis.

If successful, a limited drilling and trenching/pitting exercise will be implemented to further define the scope and extent of potentially diamondiferous rock sequences.

John Teeling, chairman of Botswana Diamonds described the programme as a "big potential high risk" project which is at an early stage.

"The licence area is 8,000sq km but almost nothing is known about it due to its rainforest location. Our ground abuts the Mobilong diamond discovery to the south and west. Initial prospecting will be in these areas to see if and where the potentially diamondiferous conglomerate lies."