Where we operate
De Beers has mining operations in Canada, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, as well as marketing and corporate offices in the United Kingdom and retail stores worldwide.
Canada
Snap Lake mine in the Northwest Territories and Victor Mine in Ontario were officially opened in July 2008, becoming De Beers’ first diamond mines outside of Africa. In 2009, Snap Lake and Victor mine produced a total of 1.1 million carats from 2.5 million tonnes treated.
| Operation | Ownership |
|---|---|
| Underground | |
| Snap Lake | 100% |
| Victor | 100% |
Botswana
Debswana, a 50:50 partnership between De Beers and the Government of the Republic of Botswana operates some of the worlds most famous and high value diamond mines, Damtshaa, Jwaneng, Letlhakane and Orapa. In 2009 Debswana produced 17.7 million carats from 17.8 million tonnes of ore treated.
| Operation | Ownership |
|---|---|
| Open Cut | |
| Orapa | 50% |
| Jwaneng | 50% |
| Letlhakane | 50% |
| Damtshaa | 50% |
Namibia
Namdeb is a 50:50 partnership between De Beers and the Government of the Republic of Namibia. For over 100 years Namibia has been known as a source of some of the world’s highest value gemstones. There are three main mines in Namibia: Elizabeth Bay, Orange River and Mining Area 1. In 2009, Namdeb produced 0.3 million carats from land-based operations.
De Beers Marine Namibia is owed by De Beers (70%) and Namdeb (30%). The Company mines off the south west coast of Namibia in the Atlantic 1 licence area of Namdeb, as the exclusive contractor. Mining takes place on the ocean floor at water depths ranging from 90 to 140 meters. During 2009, De Beers Marine Namibia produced 0.6 million carats.
| Operation | Ownership |
|---|---|
| Other | |
| De Beers Marine Namibia | 70% |
| Namdeb | 50% |
South Africa
De Beers Consolidated Mines, our South African operation, is owned in a 74/26 joint venture with Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Partner ‘Ponahalo Holdings’. DBCM produced a total of 4.8 million carats from 11.3 million tonnes treated.
De Beers’ Voorspoed diamond mine in South Africa, the first of a new generation of mines, setting new standards in environmental and social performance was officially opened on 4th November 2008. In September 2009, Voorspoed Mine recovered a record monthly production of 94,000 carats. Total production for the year ended at 532,000 carats.
| Operation | Ownership |
|---|---|
Other | |
| De Beers Marine | 100% |
| Namaqualand Mines | 78% |
| South African Sea Areas (SASA) | 78% |
Underground | |
| Finsch | 78% |
| Kimberley Mines | 78% |
Open cut | |
| The Oaks | 78% |
| Venetia | 78% |
| Voorspoed | 78% |
United Kingdom/Ireland
De Beers and Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton have established a high-end retail jewellery joint venture, through De Beers Diamond Jewellers (DBDJ), with stores in the most fashionable areas of some of the world’s great cities, including New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Tokyo and Dubai.
Element Six, the independently managed industrial diamond group, supplies diverse global markets such as oil and gas, mining, construction, automotive, aerospace, defence, electronics, semiconductor and general engineering. It is the leading player in the markets in which it operates.
| Operation | Ownership |
|---|---|
| Open cut, Underground or Other | |
| Element Six (Ireland) | 60% |
| De Beers Diamond Jewellers | 50% |
| DTCI | 100% |
Financial highlights
De Beers annual operating costs 2003-09 ($m)
Source: De Beers
