01 May 2017

Diamonds have played a pivotal role in the development of Botswana and the people of the country, says general manager of Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa mines, Mr Bakani Motlhabani.

Speaking at Debswana Diamond Exploration conference held in Orapa recently, Mr Motlhabani said diamonds continued to be the cornerstone of the national economy producing in excess of 70 per cent of Botswana’s export earnings, approximately 30 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and 50 per cent of government revenue.

He further said diamond revenue had contributed greatly to building of roads, clinics, hospitals, schools, universities and infrastructure in Botswana.

As Debswana, he said their purpose  was to turn diamonds dreams into lasting reality, while also caring about the people whose life has touched because diamonds were mined to enrich the nation.

For his part, Mr Manfred Marx who was among the team of geologists who discovered BK01 in 1967, said the very first diamonds were not found in Orapa but were found in Letlhakane at BK01.

Mr Marx said it took a very short time to get the mine running from discovery to its opening.

He said there was concentration of diamonds on the surface, as most of the diamonds were two centimetres from the surface.

Initially, he said  they sourced water from boreholes in cattleposts and pumped water from Mopipi dam, which was not viable due to environmental issues.

He said it was an honourable gesture for him to return to Orapa after 50 years, where in April 21, 1967 his team of 12 Batswana explorers stepped on to a low calcrete hill littered with kimberlite indicator minerals.

The conference was held under the theme, Celebrating 50 years of Diamond Discovery in Botswana, in order to inspire Geology undergraduates and young professionals to take exploration as career and business opportunity. Also, the conference intended to share diamond exploration knowledge and experience with the young generation and across organisations. ENDS