Lev Leviev, well known for his diamond and real-estate business interests, has purchased a stake in the Grizzly emerald mine in Zambia’s Copperbelt province, according to media reports from Africa. The reports state that the acquisition of an interest in the mine was confirmed in a telcon with Kombadayedu Kapwanga, MD of Leviev’s Namibian unit. However, no official statements have been made by any of the Leviev owned companies.

The Grizzly mine has been operated since 1997 and was formerly under the control of Abdoulaye Ndiaye of Zambia who had an 85% share, say the reports.

The mine is currently owned by Gemcanton Investments Holdings, which, the media reports, is jointly owned by two companies, British Virgin Islands-based Frango Finance and Wolle Mining as per details available with the Zambia company registry.

The reports, quoting Zambia’s finance ministry, say that Zambia produced 74.7 tonnes of emerald and beryl, a less-valuable grade of the stone, in 2016, a 42% increase from 52.8 tonnes in 2015.