Debswana Puts Two Facilities on Care and Maintenance
April 09, 25
(IDEX Online) - Debswana has put two facilities on care and maintenance in response to ongoing challenges in the global diamond market.
The 50/50 joint venture between De Beers and the Botswana government halted production at its Letlhakane Tailings Plant (LTP) and Jwaneng Modular Plant (JMP) at the end of March.
The plants process millions of tonnes of coarse tailings (the crushed rock and water left over after the primary diamond extraction) annually to maximize yields and extend the lifespans of the Letlhakane and Jwaneng mines.
Last month Debswana revised down its 2025 production target from 18m carats to 15m carats.
Both LTP and JMP will remain on care and maintenance until market conditions justify restoring additional processing capacity, Debswana said. Employees will be redeployed elsewhere.
The company also said the Damtshaa mine would remain on care and maintenance. Operations there were suspended in 2021 because of the COVID crisis.
Debswana is focusing its efforts on open-pit mining and processing plants that treat run-of-mine ore - rather than tailings - to ensure long-term sustainability.
Pic shows the Letlhakane Tailings Plant.