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June 2015
MODERN MINING
17
MINING News
The De Beers Group of Companies has
announced its intention to explore the
extension of the operating life of mine
of its Kimberley Mines Tailings Operation
beyond 2018 by placing the mine on the
market.
In the past decade the mine has taken
steps to sustain the tailings operation and
succeeded in maintaining production in
economically challenging times.
Phillip Barton, CEO, De Beers Consoli
dated Mines, stated:“It is encouraging that
our work to date, in considering all options,
has shown that Kimberley Mines may not
have to close in the near future. We are
liaising with directly affected stakehold-
ers outlining feasible options to extend
the potential of the mine and its assets. We
are engaging fully with employees, union
representatives, and with government at
national and other levels; most importantly
with the Northern Cape government and
the municipality. The asset has a superb
team of managers and operators, and
we are keen to offer the mine as a going
concern to facilitate a greater degree of
job security. The mine is De Beers’ second
De Beers to sell Kimberley Mines Tailings Operation
largest producer in South Africa with pro-
duction in 2014 of 722 000 carats. With an
appropriate operator, this asset has poten-
tial into the next decade.”
De Beers says it hopes to close the
‘expression of interest’phase and conclude
a sales agreement in a matter of months.
“It is critical that, thereafter, the transfer of
the asset to the new owner meets all regu-
latory requirements, and is handled with
appropriate care to avoid unnecessary
delay and the consequent depletion of the
diamond resource for the new operator,”
says the company.
De Beers sold its underground mines
in Kimberley – the Wesselton, Du Toitspan
and Bultfontein mines – to Petra Diamonds
in 2010.
De Beers has placed its Kimberley Mines Tailings Operation, seen here, on the market (photo: De Beers).