VerifiedPetra Diamonds Limited is an independent producer of gem-quality rough diamonds, focused on mining, processing, sorting and selling rough stones from mines in South Africa. Petra employs more than 4 000 people, and its shares trade on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.
- Registered name
- Petra Diamonds Limited
- Type
- Listed company (diamond mining)
- Fields funded
- Mining and non-mining disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, metallurgical and mining engineering
- Website
- petradiamonds.com
Cullinan and Finsch
Petra’s best-known asset is the Cullinan mine in Gauteng, source of some of the largest gem-quality diamonds ever found, including the 3 106-carat Cullinan Diamond unearthed in 1905. Petra also operates the Finsch mine in the Northern Cape. Petra says diamonds from its mines have been presented to royalty, become one-of-a-kind polished masterpieces and achieved record prices; Petra sold an exceptional Type IIb blue diamond from Cullinan for US$40.2 million, more than US$1 million per carat.
A company under financial pressure
Petra listed on AIM in 1997 and grew from a junior explorer into a leading independent diamond miner, but the diamond market has been difficult. Petra has completed a capital restructuring, extended debt maturities and raised money through a rights issue. On 7 August 2026 Petra published an update on the business rescue process at Finsch, a formal South African procedure for companies in financial distress. Students interested in Finsch should follow those announcements closely.
Bursaries and graduates
Petra offers bursaries to top-performing learners from its local South African communities, for qualifications in mining or non-mining disciplines that can contribute to those communities and to South Africa. Petra advertises bursaries each November in local communities and schools, and internally at operations; further opportunities go to community centres, libraries and ward councillors. Petra’s bursary scheme is the main source of its graduate programme, which helps graduates gain professional certifications and work experience.
Awards have covered tuition, books, accommodation, meals and a laptop, according to the provider record checked in August 2026. Petra does not publish a fixed work-back clause, although graduates are channelled towards its graduate programme.
How to research Petra
Watch Petra’s bursaries page, local libraries and your ward councillor’s notices from November 2026. Petra warns that scammers use its employees’ names and photos on WhatsApp to ask for airtime, vouchers or cash, so verify any contact through official channels.
See the Finsch Diamond Mine bursary and our mining engineering bursaries.
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