Debswana Diamond Company (Pty) Ltd is a joint venture between De Beers and the Government of Botswana and is the Group’s major producer.
Jim Gowans, Managing Director
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The main purpose of the company is to mine and recover diamonds. Although Debswana uses the most up-to-date technology to carry out its business, it is the people it employs, and the skills they bring, that make Debswana a successful operation.
Debswana's mining operations have been largely responsible for transforming Botswana from an agricultural-based economy in the 1960s to a country that has consistently displayed one of the highest economic growth rates in the world.
The company is Botswana’s largest non-government employer, and produces over 70% of the country’s export earnings, 30% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 50% of government revenue.
Debswana is the world's largest diamond producer by value, with mining operations at Jwaneng, Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa. All of these mines use open-pit mining methods to extract their diamonds.
Jwaneng is the richest diamond mine in the world while the Orapa pipe is the world's second largest diamond-producing kimberlite pipe.
In May 2006, the Government of the Republic of Botswana (GRB) and De Beers also established DTC Botswana (a 50:50 joint venture between the GRB and De Beers). In addition to sorting and valuing Debswana’s production, the purpose of DTC Botswana is to make aggregated diamonds available for sale in Botswana for local manufacturing. This supports the GRB’s economic imperative to drive job and value creation from the country’s diamond resources.
In 2010, Debswana commenced the Cut-8 extension project at Jwaneng Mine. the project represents the largest ever investment in Botswana and is expected to extend the life of this mine to at least 2025. Cut-8 is expected to create more than 1000 jobs and yield 100 million carats over the life of the mine. The project will strengthen the local economy and transform Jwaneng Mine into one of the world's few super-pit mines.