Namdeb

Namdeb's predecessor, Consolidated Diamond Mines (CDM), was a wholly owned subsidiary of De Beers until 1994.

In the years since joint ownership took effect, Namdeb has continued to recover diamonds and generate employment for Namibian citizens. The revenue generated has played a central role in building the social and physical infrastructure of an independent Namibia.

Diamonds are an important generator of export earnings, accounting for more than 40% of export revenue, 7% of government revenue and more than 10% of GDP.

Namdeb, De Beers Marine Namibia (DBMN), NamGem and the Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) employ over 3 000 people.

This makes the Namdeb one of the country’s largest employers, and creates multiple opportunities for partners – not only in mining, but also in technology, enterprise development and academic research.

Namdeb currently holds six mining licences from which diamonds are recovered. The Mining Area No.1, Bogenfels and Elizabeth Bay Mining Licences extend from the Orange River in the south to Lüderitz in the north, and approximately 5.5 kilometres off shore in the Atlantic Ocean to approximately 20 to 35 kilometres inland.

Douglas Bay Mining Licence extends from Lüderitz north to latitude 26 degrees south and from the high water mark of the Atlantic Ocean to about 15 kilometres inland.

The Orange River Mining Licence extends along the Orange River for about 50 kilometres inland from the Mining Area No.1 boundary. Atlantic 1 Mining Licence occupies a portion of the middle shelf of the South Atlantic Ocean, from the boundary of Mining Area No.1 to about 65 kilometres from the shore.

The bulk of Namdeb's production comes from the Mining Area No.1 and Atlantic 1 licences. In the latter area, DBMN explores and recovers diamonds from beneath the sea off the Namibian coast.

In De Beers Marine Namibia, Namdeb has access to the technology and expertise of the world's foremost marine diamond mining company with an international reputation for excellence.

Auchas Mine on the north bank of the Orange River started operations in 1990 and Elizabeth Bay Mine, some 24 km south of Lüderitz, followed in 1991. Beach and marine contractors mine the northern portion of the company's licence areas and the coastal waters to 5 km from shore.

All Namdeb diamonds mined at Namdeb’s operation are sold to the NDTC for resale on the international diamond market. 

At Okahandja, NamGem - a wholly owned subsidiary of Namdeb, has been cutting and polishing top quality gems supplied to it by the DTC International since 1999, employing over 120 people and transferring specialist cutting skills to Namibian citizens.

NamGem’s strategic partnership with Lazare Kaplan International has added momentum to the company’s drive towards profitability and global competitiveness.  

For the second year in succession, Namdeb recovered in excess of 2 million carats.  In 2008, Namdeb expects to exceed the record production levels achieved in 2006 and 2007. 

Namdeb will look increasingly to marine operations to satisfy increasing international demand, and to maintain production and revenues.

The Sida Ei !Gûs Project, which commenced full implementation in the fourth quarter of 2007, set the conceptual framework for the future of Namdeb land operations.

The strategy holds immense potential to reposition the land operations into a smaller and decentralized business unit making a still significant contribution to carats production and revenue for its shareholders. 

However, it must be accepted that it will not be able to sustain the current levels of employment and the overheads associated with maintaining the town of Oranjemund.

We have over the last five years or more been communicating to all stakeholders the challenges posed by the declining carats profile and the need to prepare for the lower production outputs we are witnessing today.

In pursuit of its business goals, Namdeb is committed to sustainable development, especially in local communities. The Namdeb Social Fund is the country’s leading corporate social responsibility fund, and has donated over N$20 million to various beneficiaries since its inception in 1994.

Oshipe Development Fund, a wholly owned subsidiary of Namdeb, promotes entrepreneurship and SME development through investment in commercially viable business in the country.

In 2007, the fund contributed N$3,3 million to some 40 projects in areas including education, health and welfare, community development and sport development.

Education was the biggest beneficiary (receiving 36% of the fund’s donations), followed by health and welfare (16%), community development (12%), public affairs (12%) and small business development (11%).