28 Feb 2018

 Karowe mine aims to mine, recover and sell diamonds in the manner that maximises value to stakeholders.

Karowe mine community relations officer Ms Kgalalelo Mokgweetsi said recently during a kgotla meeting in Rakops, stating that the intention was to become a model mine of note.

Ms Mokgweetsi noted that 2017 was not a good year in terms of safety as the mine closed the year with 31 aid cases,two lost  time injuries, three medical treatment injuries, two restricted work injuries and 48 property damage incidents.

She further indicated that construction of a measles blast freezer funded through Lundin Foundation at Letlhakane abattoir was successfully completed in December 2017.

The freezer she said was under defects and liability period and could hold up to 10 carcasses at a time and carcasses detention period has been reduced from 14 to four days.

Letlhakane abbatoir which was also funded through Ludin Foundation she said had the potential to generate enough business to sustain itself beyond just slaughtering if it addressed issues surrounding the chiller expansion staff performance, freezer expansion and functionality, load-out rail and expansion of the lairages.

Ms Mokgweetsi stated that Karowe village Initiatives would be piloted in three villages being Khwee commercial goat farming to be operated through a community trust, Mokubilo horticulture which would be ran by a registered community trust as well as Mmadikola hardware store.

Labour complement at the mine as at November 30, 2017 she said stood at 1041, adding that Karowe mine casuals were now permanent with 21 casual labourers permanently employed by the mine from various villages in the sub-district.

The 21 she said were employed in engineering department, process department and mineral resources department. Ends