Power move to shake mining landscape

However, Debswana has grander plans for Naledi, which include competing in the industry and even branching out of the country.

The prospects of how far Naledi could go are massive. Debswana’s board has approved several megaprojects intended to take the company into the future, including expansions at Orapa and an underground project at Jwaneng expected to cost P65 billion. The latter project will involve 360 kilometres of tunnels, the world’s largest underground diamond mine, and take Debswana’s production to 2054. While no one is saying Naledi will be at the front of the line when the underground contract hits the market, the new subsidiary’s rivals will be feeling the heat, particularly as Debswana has been ramping up the skills required for the project, including sending people outside the country for training. Motlhabani’s comments at the recent business briefing would have provided little comfort about Naledi’s ambitions. “We believe that Naledi will grow the mining services industry and that this will mushroom. “From January 2023, Naledi will provide labour services to Cut 9, then after that, the organisation will look for other opportunities not only in Debswana but the whole mining industry and beyond our borders, providing bespoke mining services. “Through Naledi, we will accelerate the development and growth of the mining services industry in the country and we are very excited and optimistic about Naledi’s future,” Motlhabani said.