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The US$2.3 billion investment to take South Africa’s leading diamond mine underground bolsters De Beers’ global production and will benefit the South African economy and host communities until at least 2045
De Beers Group has celebrated a key milestone with the delivery of first production from underground operations at its Venetia Mine in Limpopo, South Africa. The overall construction of the underground mine is now 70 per cent complete, with construction and production ramp-up continuing over the next few years.
Venetia Mine, South Africa’s leading diamond mine, ceased open pit mining operations in December 2022 after 30 years of production from the Tier 1 asset. De Beers embarked on the US$2.3 billion underground expansion in 2012, in what represents the biggest single investment in the country’s diamond mining industry in decades. The highly mechanised underground operation will deliver up to seven million tonnes of kimberlite ore per year to produce ~ 4 million carats of diamonds annually.
Moses Madondo, Managing Director of De Beers Group Managed Operations, said: “The investment in taking the world class Venetia Mine underground enhances De Beers Group’s global production for the long term and is an indication of our commitment to South Africa. Our incredible team of employees and contracting partners have pulled together fantastically to achieve this major milestone of first production from the underground operation. We look forward to seeing this high performing team continue the good work as we ramp up production over the next few years, bringing profound benefits to our workforce, our host communities, commercial partners and South Africa as a whole.”
The underground project currently employs 4,300 people, mostly from the host communities of Musina and Blouberg Municipalities. De Beers commissioned a US$10.5 million training centre in June 2021 as part of its operational readiness framework to enhance the transformation of people, processes and systems for the successful transition from open pit to underground mining. To date, a total of 180 employees have successfully transitioned to underground operations without any job losses for Venetia Mine’s permanent employees.
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About De Beers Group
Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers Jewellers and De Beers Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services via De Beers Institute of Diamonds and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology systems via De Beers Group Ignite. De Beers Group is committed to ‘Building Forever,’ a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; where communities thrive and the environment is protected; and where there are equal opportunities for all. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit www.debeersgroup.com.