Modern Mining June 2015

MINING News

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.”

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. 

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 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-

De Beers has placed its Kimberley Mines Tailings Operation, seen here, on the market (photo: De Beers).

June 2015  MODERN MINING  17