Mining Intelligence and News
Tanzania

Williamson Mine

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Williamson Mine

Location: 5 km NE from Kolandoto, Tanzania

Regional Office:

Silver Point Office Park, Block 3, 22 Ealing Crescent, Bryanston
P.O. Box 71007
Johannesburg
South Africa
2021

Contacts:

Additional Resources for Suppliers & Investors

Categories

Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Diamond
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotWilliamson mine has become one of the world’s most important source of large pink diamonds.

Production at Williamson was going well until a Tailings Storage Facility failure in November 2022. After the failure, all production activities were stopped. There were only minor injuries and no loss of life. The focus for the next seven months was on fixing the problem, building a new storage facility, and doing necessary maintenance. These actions allowed Petra to start operations again in early July, ahead of schedule. The mine is expected to reach full production by the second half of fiscal year 2024.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Government of Tanzania 25 % Indirect
Petra Diamonds Ltd. 75 % Indirect
Williamson Diamonds Ltd. (operator) 75 % Direct
Petra: 75%;

the Government of Tanzania: 25%.

After completion (expected in H1 FY 2023) of the Framework Agreement and MoU with Caspian, Petra will hold an effective 31.5% interest in the Williamson mine, with the Government of Tanzania holding 37% and Caspian Limited holding 31.5%.

Contractors

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SourceSource

Deposit type

  • Kimberlite

Summary:

The mine is an open pit operation based upon the 146 hectare Mwadui kimberlite pipe, which is the world’s largest economic kimberlite to have seen continuous mining.

Despite having been in operation since 1940, the pit is only 95 metres at its deepest point due to the large size of the deposit. The low grade of the deposit is countered by the high value of its diamonds and lends itself well to high volume, bulk mining methods.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

During 2023, there was lower production due to Williamson being on care and maintenance for around 7 months of the year.
CommodityProductUnits20232022202020192018201720162015
Diamond Mineral carats  ....  Subscribe
Diamond carats  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe399,615341,102225,202212,869202,265

Operational metrics

Metrics20232022202020192018201720162015
Tonnes processed  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe5,495,470 t5,045,284 t4,071,592 t4,420,632 t4,426,044 t

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Operating Costs

Currency2023202220202019201820172016
Total operating costs ($/t milled) USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Financials

Units2023202220212020201920182017
Capital expenditures (planned) M USD  ....  Subscribe
Capital expenditures M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 8.6   4.6   15  
Revenue M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 93   68.5   58.4  
Operating Income M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe -50   13.4   -2.9  

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Nov 13, 2023

EmployeesContractorsTotal WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2023
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2022
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2021
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2020
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2019
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2018
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2017
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2016

Aerial view:

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