Orapa is a conventional open-pit mine, situated 240km west of Francistown in Botswana.
The new plant at Orapa - completed in the 1990s
The mine began production in July 1971 and is the oldest running Debswana operation.
The word Orapa means “resting place for lions”.
Orapa produces over 17 million carats of diamonds a year and is the world's second largest diamond producing kimberlite pipe with 113 hectares in surface area.
De Beers maintains a 100-bed hospital in Orapa that caters for employees, and acts as a referral hospital for the region, also providing pre-primary and primary schooling for employees' children.
Environmental responsibilities also get attention and focus on water conservation, waste management and management of the Orapa Game Park.
In 2004, Orapa was awarded 5 Star status by the National Occupational Safety Association (NOSA) and it is ISO 14001 certified.
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