GABERONE HAS TAKEN OVER FROM LONDON In short: The relocation of sights from London to Gaborone in southern Africa underpins the long-term future of the partnership between De Beers and Botswana, and is another significant step in the country’s transformation into one of the world’s leading diamond centres. N ot only is Debswana a 50/50 joint venture partner with De Beers; it has also had the pull to direct De Beers’ sights towards Botswana, which has long been seen as the Southern African country that provides the most stable mining environment for investors. This has helped it to attract finance to develop its diamond, coal, gold and copper reserves. By far the best-known mineral is Botswana’s diamonds, with the majority being mined by Debswana – a 50/50 joint venture between the world famous De Beers diamond brand and the government of Botswana. The Anglo American group in turn has an 85% stake in De Beers. “The relocation of sights from London to Gaborone in southern Africa underpins the long-term future of the partnership between De Beers and Botswana, and is another significant step in the country’s transformation into one of the world’s leading diamond centres,” said the company. The group has spent $US35 million building the new offices in the capital of Botswana where it will hold its sights. It celebrated another milestone in its 125-year history last week, with the start of rough diamond sales to international sight-holders. The Diamond Trading Centre in Gaborones. The project to relocate international sights from London to Gaborone was carried out over two years and was completed ahead of schedule and below budget. It involved the migration of people, technology and systems. De Beers said the building housed the world’s most sophisticated diamond sorting, valuing and sales facility and provided an excellent environment for De Beers’ global client base. The people of Botswana now make up approximately 50% of the 160 people employed in De Beers’ Global Sight- holder sales division. “Africa was home to the diamond industry when it began in the late 19th century and De Beers and its partners were central to that growth. As we make this move, Africa is once again at the forefront as De Beers and its partners lead the diamond industry into a sparkling new chapter in its illustrious history,” said Philippe Mellier, CEO of De Beers Group. De Beers links were first formed with Botswana when the company found a rich resource of diamonds in the country. “In April 1967, the pipe at Orapa was found. This was to be the largest (117 hectares) of all the kimberlite pipes which were eventually located in this area,” says Debswana. Orapa was clearly the first diamond mine in Botswana and Debswana operates that mine together with the Jwaneng operation, Letlhakane and Damtshaa. “Jwaneng is the richest diamond mine in the world and is situated 170km west of Gaborone. Orapa, Letlhakane and, the youngest Damtshaa mines are roughly 240km west of Francistown. The Orapa pipe is the world’s second largest diamond-producing kimberlite pipe,” says Debswana.   The mines are open pit, but Jwaneng is being extended underground. This is an expansion which will make it large enough to be labeled a “superpit”. The cost of the expansion known as the Cut-8 is put at US$3 billion and should push Jwaneng’s life out to 2028, the company said. “The construction of a modular tailings treatment plant started in 2013. It will have a capacity to treat 2.5Mtpa and is expected to produce 18Mcts in 20 years. The plant is expected to be fully operational in 2014,” says Miningtechnology.com. ISSUE 12 2013 MINING REVIEW AFRICA 31 MINING IN AFRICA DE BEERS SIGHT-HOLDING RE- LOCATION COMPLETE