Cut 8 on track to produce first diamonds in 2017
Brian Benza | Wednesday November 30, 2016 18:00
The critical stay-in-business expansion project of the world’s largest mine by value started in 2009 at a cost of US$3 billion.
The expansion of the mine is being carried out by Majwe Mining, a joint venture between Basil Read Mining, Leighton International and Bothakga Burrow Botswana after it secured a five-year mining services contract with Debswana in 2011.
Majwe’s contract has recently been shrouded in speculation, with reports suggesting that the mining contractor has retrenched about 30% of staff as the five-year contract has come to an end.
While reports say Majwe’s contract has been extended by two more years, corporate affairs manager, Matshidiso Kamona declined to comment on the matter but could only say the Jwaneng pit expansion is on track and will start delivering first ore to plant in 2017.
“Debswana like any other corporate entity regularly engages service providers for a number of activities based on contractual agreements with those. These contracts expire at different intervals and Debswana is not at liberty to discuss them. Every contract that Debswana enters into with its suppliers requires the parties to maintain confidentiality with respect to the terms and anything related thereto, during and beyond the contractual period,” she said.
Majwe communications and community relation superintendent, Archibald Ngakaagae also declined to comment referring all questions on Cut 8 and/or the contract to Debswana. Without Cut 8, mining at Jwaneng will be severely curtailed post 2017 as ore from Cuts 6 & 7 are almost depleted.
Cut 8 will extend the life of the mine by seven years from 2017 to 2024 and optimise long-term distribution to shareholders while contributing to the development of Botswana. Jwaneng was mining to a depth of 330 metres in 2009 when the project started and Cut 8 is expected to reach 650 metres by 2017.
The Cut 8 project involves the widening and deepening of the existing Jwaneng pit as a short-term alternative to going underground. The project was expected to strip 713 million tonnes of waste in order to expose 75 million tonnes of ore and 100 million carats.
Beyond Cut 8, Debswana is expected to embark on Cut 9, which will be expected to extend Jwaneng mine’s lifespan from Cut 8’s 2024 to 2032.
Thanks to new exploration and recovery technologies, the life span of Debswana mines is now expected to stretch up to 2050 from initial forecast of 2030. Debswana plans to keep production flat at 20 million carats in 2016.