Diamond mine in South Africa for sale? | BNT Diamonds
Rough diamond

Diamond mine in South Africa for sale?

18 Aug 21
  • Which mine does De Beers want to sell?
  • Why is the Voorspoed mine on sale?
  • What plans does De Beers still have in South Africa?

Special news on the diamond market this week: De Beers sells another South-African mine. A couple years ago they also sold the historical Cullinan mine, where one of the most famous diamonds was found, the Cullinan.

Which mine does De Beers want to sell?

The Beers are looking for a buyer for the Voorspoed mine in South Africa. De Beers, who almost owns a world monopoly on diamonds, reopened this mine in 2008. At the time, the group emphasized that this was the first project that was completely based on ‘black economic empowerment’, a strategy of the South African government to let the black population benefit from the diamond market.

With the purchase of the mine, De Beers took over 93% of the diamond production in South Africa. Nine years later, they are looking for a new buyer.

Why is the Voorspoed mine on sale?

According to De Beers, a lower-cost operator would have a better chance to maximise the value of the assets. An operational model that differs from De Beers should be able to extend the productive lifespan until after 2020. This should guarantee ongoing work and economic opportunities on the South African diamond market.

“We think that giving the lower-cost operators the chance to buy the mine, is the most responsible action”, thus Phillip Barton, CEO of De Beers Consolidated Mines.

What plans does De Beers still have in South Africa?

In South-Africa, De Beers now spends about 2 billion dollars extra in de ‘open-pit mine’ Venetia. Open-pit, also called opencast, is the most used mine building technique for new mines. The Venetia-mine, meanwhile, reached a certain depth, so that they had to decide to further expand the activities underground.

Are you interested in the diamond market? Do you want to invest in diamonds yourself? Ask your quotation here of contact the experts of BNT Diamonds.

Fabienne Rauw
About Fabienne Rauw
BNT Diamonds Antwerp

Fabienne, manager of the German market is able to guide every client with finding the right jewel. She takes care of most of the German orders, but also takes other task on her plate. Thanks to her six years of experience at BNT Diamonds she acquainted well with the product and the marketing around it. Her degree in PR ensures that BNT Diamonds is well presented across all media channels. For anyone looking into a new investment opportunity, Fabienne is the perfect guide in this process. No question will be left unanswered, and she will help you every step of the way.

With this article, BNT Diamonds strives to inform you thoroughly about investing in diamonds. No investment can be guaranteed to be without risk or fully according to your expectations. That is why we recommend to research the risks and aspects of investing in diamond properly to ensure that you make the right choice for your portfolio.