Debswana Diamond Company has begun processing of ore from the new extension of the Jwaneng diamond mine, commonly dubbed as Cut 8, according to reports in the local media.

Debswana Managing Director Balisi Bonyongo was quoted by news agency Reuters as having said that stripping of an estimated 500 million tonnes of waste from above the diamond bearing ore was 88% complete by the end of March.

He was addressing different stakeholders in the project which is expected to extend the life of the mine till about 2024 and yield nearly 100 million carats.

Debswana, jointly owned by De Beers and the government of Botswana, is epected to produce about 20.5 mn carats this year.

Bonyongo was also reported as saying that the Letlhakane mine is near the end of its life and the Company has invested 2.1 billion pula in setting up a tailings plant which is expected to mine about 800,000 carats over 20 years.

Pic caption:  Jwaneng Cut 8 Project
Courtesy De Beers