Lucara awards last major Karowe underground contract
Canada-headquartered Lucara Diamond Corporation has awarded a lateral development contract for its Karowe underground project (UGP), in Botswana, to Group R Mining and Exploration Botswana.
The contract includes all underground lateral development from the production and ventilation shafts to the orebody, including construction of the extraction level, underground crushing chamber, fine ore bins, pump stations with associated vertical dams, drilling horizons, workshop facilities and all connecting infrastructure required to advance development toward the kimberlite.
"We are pleased to announce the award of this critical contract to Group R, marking an important milestone in the continued development of our underground project. The award of the last major contract for the UGP reflects our commitment to maintaining momentum on the project and delivering the project safely, responsibly and in accordance with our schedule.
"We are confident that Group R's expertise and proven record will support our vision for a world-class underground mine," comments Lucara president and CEO William Lamb.
"We are honoured to partner with Lucara on this crucial phase of the Karowe UGP. Our team is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of safety, quality and operational excellence as we collaborate to open the next chapter of this world-class asset.
"We look forward to using our expertise and contributing to the long-term success of the mine and the communities it benefits," adds Group R CEO Hannes van Staden.
Group R is expected to mobilise to site in the second quarter of 2026, with lateral development work to start in July 2026.
Recruitment and work permits would start in early 2026, with a focus on local employment.
Lucara has initiated detailed engineering of the lateral development portion of the UGP and is finalising an updated life-of-mine plan based on the results of the simulation work.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation


















