DEBSWANA DIAMOND COMPANY
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For our people , every diamond purchase represents food on the table ; better living conditions ; better healthcare ; potable and safe drinking water ; more roads to connect our remote communities ; and much more .”
Those were the words of Festus Mogae , Former President of Botswana , speaking in 2006 . The diamond industry in Botswana is flourishing , with the industry accounting for a large portion of the country ’ s revenue .
Debswana Mining Company is a key player on that front . As the largest private sector employer in Botswana , with over 5,000 permanent employees and at least 5,000 contractors ; with four major diamond processing plants across Orapa , Letlhakane , and Damtshaa Mines ( OLDM ) and Jwaneng Mine , Debswana has been a major contributor to the economic growth of the country since its inception in 1967 .
While the history of the company runs deep within the history of Botswana , the company now faces the future , with major plant expansions and technological innovation next on the agenda to continue to lead the way in diamond processing .
“ Some of our assets are old , some over 45 years , so right now Debswana is looking at what our future strategy will be with regards to future expansions and building new plants ,” says Edwin Elias , Head of Ore Processing .
“ It ’ s about thinking what the approach will be in our quest towards being global benchmark diamond processing business unit , the methodology , the technology acquisition and development we have to deploy . Our plants of the future will be very different from our existing plants that were built some 45 years ago ,”
Strategic development As a metallurgist by profession , Elias has been with Debswana and De beers Group of Companies for at least 15 years . Through development programmes , both technical and managerial , Elias has been able to move up through the organisation to a more senior executive level . It is
114 March 2017