MINING to the business , so we can be assured that plants are being operated in an effective and efficient manner ,” he says .
“ But I must take notice of the high level strategic view of the bigger group , what is De Beers looking for ; what is Debswana looking for ; so that at the end of the day whatever initiatives we come up with , will be in alignment with the company ’ s high level strategic objectives and will be able to maximize shareholders value .”
In the modern technologically savvy world , innovation can play a key role in determining the success of a business , none more so than Debswana . With assets as old as 45 years , now is the time for integrating new technologies to continue to run the most efficient and cost effective diamond operation . But it is not a case of simply choosing a new technology and seeing what sticks , for Elias and Debswana it is a strategic process of envisioning solutions of today that will satisfy future requirements .
“ We look at the challenges that we currently have , specifically technology and how technologies are evolving . There ’ s also the impacts an expansion may have on infrastructure and how we may need to replace that infrastructure ,” he says .
Through this process , it presents an opportunity to embrace new technologies . Elias believes that when looking at the impacts on infrastructure , it ’ s an opportunity to no longer think of replacing it or modifying it in a “ like for like ” situation . Elias can consider technology solutions that could allow the plants to operate in a safer and more cost effective way .
Mitigating risk With adopting any new technology there is an inescapable element of risk . This is true of any industry and Elias believes as much . Over the last 12 months , Debswana has
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