Overview
Status | Care and Maintenance |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Production Start | ...  |
The mine was placed on care and maintenance at the end of Q1 2021. Studies are underway to determine the optimal future business strategy. |
Source:
Anglo American owns 85% of De Beers, the world’s leading diamond company. The remaining 15% of De Beers is owned by the Government of the Republic of Botswana (GRB).
Debswana is a joint venture between the government of Botswana and the South African diamond company De Beers; each party owns 50% of the company.
Contractors
- Subscription is required.
Summary:
Four small diamond pipes (B/K1, B/K9, B/K12 and B/K15) were discovered between 1967 and 1972 in an area 20km east of the Orapa kimberlite pipe. These pipes were grouped to form the Damtshaa Mine, the youngest of the Debswana mines which began operation in 2003, and are managed along with Letlhakane Mine from the Orapa operation. The ore grade for B/K9 and B/K12, the kimberlites currently mined, is about 29 cpht and annual production is a maximum of about 330,000 carats. B/K9, at 11.5 hectares, is the larger of the two mined pipes and has a current area of excavation of about 21 hectares, and a depth below surface of 50m. B/K12 pipe area at surface measures 3.2 hectares and the current area of excavation is 7 hectares, with the pit bottom 63m below ground level.
Summary:
First discovered in 1966, the Orapa Regime (cluster) consists of Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines, which are open-pit operations using traditional truck and shovel methods, and clustered in a radius of under 25km in the Central District of Botswana.
Damtshaa was placed onto extended care and maintenance in 2021.
Source:
Summary:

- subscription is required.
Production:
Commodity | Units | 2020 | 2015 | 2014 |
Diamond
|
carats
| ......  | 221,000 | 303,000 |
All production numbers are expressed as mineral.
- Subscription is required.
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2020 | 2015 |
Total tonnes mined
| ......  | 6,341,311 t |
Tonnes processed
| ......  | 1,498,856 t |
- Subscription is required.
Reserves at December 31, 2021:
Reported Diamond Reserves and Resources are based on a Bottom Cut-Off (BCO) which refers to the bottom screen size aperture and for Damtshaa Diamond Resources BCO 1.65 mm.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained carats |
Indicated
|
25.2 Mt
|
Diamond
|
21.9 cpht
|
5.5 M carats
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
- Subscription is required.
- Subscription is required.