Irish AIM-listed company Botswana Diamonds has been awarded a 430sq km exploration licence in Cameroon.

The licence covers an area of paleo-placer conglomerate identified during reconnaissance of the company’s 8,087sq km Libongo licence. The exploration licence is valid for four years with the option to renew for further four-year periods.

A bulk sampling programme to determine diamond potential is planned for the coming months, the company said.