Name and Location
Venetia underground project, Limpopo, South Africa.

Client
De Beers Consolidated Mines South Africa (DBCM).

Project Description
The Venetia mine, which officially opened on August 14, 1992, is currently the largest producer of diamonds in South Africa and accounts for about 40% of the country’s total yearly diamond production.

The mine is currently an openpit operation; however, there are advanced plans to build a new underground mine beneath the current operating openpit.

The new underground mine will extend the life of Venetia to 2040 and replace the openpit as South Africa’s largest diamond mine, yielding an estimated 96-million carats from the estimated 130-million tonnes to be treated during the life of the mine, securing more than 3 000 jobs.

Value
De Beers expects to invest about R20-billion in the Venetia underground mine from now to 2021, when the conversion from openpit to underground is expected to begin.

Duration
Underground operations will begin production in 2021.

Latest Developments
Construction of the Venetia underground mine started on October 22.

The first sod was turned on the terrace where two vertical shafts and a decline shaft will be sunk to a depth of one kilometre to extend the life of South Africa’s biggest and most lucrative diamond mine.

Sixty kilometres of tunnelling will have to be constructed before the underground operation can start production, using massive mining techniques to produce 5.9-million tonnes a year of ore and providing employment for 1 800 people for the next 22 years.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
DBCM, email info@debeersgroup.com.