Botswana stands as a true powerhouse in the global diamond industry, renowned not just for its immense production but also for its responsible mining practices.
Botswana is the world’s largest diamond producer by value and the second largest by volume(Botswana – Botswana Diamonds, n.d.).
Let’s explore the most famous diamond mines in Botswana!
- Orapa
Orapa is an open pit style of mine, located on two kimberlite pipes. Currently, the Orapa mine annually produces approximately 11 million carats (2200 kg) of diamonds. More so, it is a closed town with a population of over 12 000 people, it serves as the administrative centre for Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines. Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa mines is certified ISO 14001: 2015 Environmental Management System and ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System(Pia20104 Orapa Diamond Mine Botswana, n.d.).
- Jwaneng:
The Jwaneng diamond mine contributes between 60% and 70% of Debswana’s revenue. Jwaneng’s high grade ore means this mine punches above its weight in terms of diamonds recovered. The mine maintains an ISO 14001 certificate for environmental compliance, being the first mine in Botswana to achieve this certification in 2000. Jwaneng is known for its excellent safety record, winning multiple national and international safety awards. The mine is located on three pipes (Centre North & South pipes) with an average grade of 150 cpht, and a smaller satellite pipe averaging 25 cpht. The size of the pipe, near surface was 54 ha. The age of the pipe is estimated to be 240 million years old(Jwaneng Travel Information, n.d.).
- Karowe mines
Karowe, which means precious stone in the local language, is a large-scale operating mine and is one of the world’s foremost producers of large, high quality, Type IIA diamonds in excess of 10.8 carats. Notable recoveries including the historic 2,488 carat Motswedi, the 1,758 carat Sewelô, the 1,109 carat Lesedi La Rona and the 813 carat Constellation(Lucara Diamond, n.d.).
Which of these famous diamond producers exemplifies best practices in both value creation and sustainability?
Reference:
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Botswana – Botswana Diamonds. (n.d.). Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://botswanadiamonds.co.uk/operations/botswana/
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Jwaneng Travel Information. (n.d.). Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://www.botswana-info.com/country/town/986/jwaneng
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Lucara Diamond. (n.d.). Lucara Diamond Corp. Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://lucaradiamond.com/
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Pia20104 Orapa Diamond Mine Botswana. (n.d.). NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia20104-orapa-diamond-mine-botswana/
