Open Pit Mining Operations Commence at Lerala

(IDEX Online News) – Kimberley Diamonds Ltd (KDL) has announced that open pit mining operations at the Lerala Diamond Mine in Botswana commenced this week. The company expects the first production and recovery of diamonds this month and to conduct the first diamond sales in June.

Plant construction continues to progress, despite the higher-than-average rainfall being experienced at the site. Plant construction is expected to be complete by mid-April, with re-commissioning expected later in the month.

Electrical and instrumentation work has started on the primary scrubber, secondary crusher and 400 ton DMS storage bin and new recovery module, following the completion of structural work. Construction of the tailings dam extension and the dry tailings conveyor system commenced in March, with the former progressing on schedule to accept tailings later this month.