Modern Mining March 2018

DIAMOND MINING

Efficiencies up as Venetia’s open pit winds down

“The mining team has been boosted with key staff who have the experience and pas- sion required, and who take huge pride in their work,” says Horak. “With our focus on constantly improving mining practices, we achieved 36 million tonnes (Mt) in 2017 – an increase of 25 % on our 2016 levels.” This contributed substantially to diamond production in 2017 of 4,6 million carats, a 27 % increase on the 2016 total of 3,6 million carats. Venetia is targeting 27 Mt total tonnes for 2018 as it gradually ramps down towards the start of underground mining. After that, production drops off steeply year on year to 3,2 Mt in 2023. Horak emphasises the importance of ensur- ing that spatial and operational constraints in

While the spotlight has in recent years favoured the underground project at De Beers’ Venetia diamond mine, the open-pit operation has quietly been producing the goods; it is now further raising the bar in operational standards as it heads into its ‘final straight’ of just five years.

A ccording to Russel Horak, Ve- netia’s Senior Mining Manager, the current focus is firmly on driving efficiencies and apply- ing best practice principles to ensure that operations remain optimal even as the production tails off between now and the planned closure of open-pit mining in 2023.

A view of the open-pit drilling and loading operation in K1.

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32  MODERN MINING  March 2018