Key points
-
Karowe mine last blast clears way for shaft equipping.
-
Lucara and UMS mark 2,000 injury-free days.
-
Step secures Karowe’s future diamond production in Botswana.
Lucara Diamond and United Mining Services (UMS) have marked an important moment at the Karowe diamond mine in Botswana. On Sept. 4, workers carried out the last underground blast needed to complete the production shaft.
The milestone means the team can now start installing equipment that will move people, ore, and materials in and out of the mine.
It also celebrated another success: 2,000 days without a single work injury. UMS CEO Digby Glover called it “an extraordinary achievement.”
UMS has worked on the Karowe project since 2019, handling the shaft sinking and engineering designs. The company said the safe and early completion showed the value of teamwork between all partners.
Lucara sees bright future after Karowe mine last blast
Lucara President and CEO William Lamb said the last blast secures the mine’s future. Karowe is already known worldwide for producing some of the biggest and most valuable diamonds ever found.
The mine produced the 1,758-carat Sewelô, the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona, and the 813-carat Constellation, which sold for $63.1 million. Earlier this year, the 2,488-carat Motswedi was also recovered.
Since opening in 2012, Karowe has worked as an open pit mine, processing about 20 million tonnes of ore. With surface reserves almost gone, Lucara is now turning to underground mining to extend the life of the operation.
Team effort keeps work safe and on track
Project manager Simon Wolmarans said the last blast closed one chapter and opened another. The next step is “shaft equipping” — installing lifts, steel supports, and ventilation to prepare the mine for production.
Karowe has two main shafts. The production shaft is 770 meters deep and will carry ore and workers. The second, 722 meters deep, will serve as an air outlet and emergency exit.
Nigel Townshend, UMS board chair, said the project is also building skills for Botswana’s future mining industry.
“This mine has created jobs and trained people in rare shaft sinking skills that will help future projects,” he said.
Glover praised everyone involved — from engineers to regulators — for keeping the project safe. “This shows that working together can make mining both safe and successful,” he said.
