13 Jul 2021

Debswana invested over P3 billion between 2015 and 2017 on infrastructure and technology at Jwaneng and Letlhakane tailings plants.

The Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Lefoko Moagi said this in response to a parliamentary question on July 12.

Minister Moagi said the company was exploring opportunities to outsource some of its services based on good business cases.  

Conversely, he said in terms of tailings treatment, Debswana had not outsourced the service because it was done as part of its bigger production activities as per the production plan.

He said the company’s Resource Development Plan (RDP) utilised resources under Debswana’s portfolio and the tailings resources were part of the RDP.

He indicated that Letlhakane and Jwaneng mines tailings were part of current operations producing 800k carats each annually through their processing facilities known as the Letlhakane Tailings Plant (LTP) and Jwaneng Modular Plant (JMP).

He said Orapa tailings were part of the RDP and would be processed and exploited towards the end of Run of Mine carats from Jwaneng underground in the 2040s, while Damtshaa Mine tailings were yet to be sampled for grade and revenue estimates.

“While the mines optimise their processes to recover as much as possible from the resources, leaving very little in the tailings, under the long-term Mine Closure Plan, Debswana will conduct a due diligence exercise to determine the financial value of the tailings which will inform the value of all possible business options,” he said.   

He said the value would be influenced by the prevailing diamond market and diamond recovery technology advancements.

The minister indicated that the Debswana 2024 strategy promoted citizen economic empowerment.

Kanye North MP, Mr Thapelo Letsholo, had asked the minister to consider that in reducing diamond mining output, diminishing financial returns from diamond mining, coupled with the imminent end of life for Debswana mines, the company should start treatment or outsource it in the tailing in Orapa, Jwaneng, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines.

Mr Letsholo also wanted to know the estimated caratage and financial value of the tailings at each mine. Ends