Key points
- Botswana Diamonds secures environmental approval for drilling.
- KX36 project holds significant diamond resources.
- Drilling scheduled for the Kalahari dry season next year.
Botswana Diamonds has secured environmental approval from the Botswana Department of Environmental Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to proceed with drilling operations at two new targets in the Kalahari region.
According to a report by Mining Weekly, the drilling program will focus on two gravity anomalies, measuring 12 hectares and 6 hectares, located near the company’s KX36 diamond discovery.
These new targets are seen as crucial to upgrading the resources in the area, including those at the Ghaghoo mine, which is currently under care and maintenance. The Ghaghoo mine, situated approximately 60 kilometers from the KX36 site, is a key part of the company’s ongoing exploration efforts in the region.
KX36 and future exploration plans
The KX36 project itself is a 3.5-hectare kimberlite pipe in the Kalahari. It currently holds indicated resources of 17.9 million tonnes at 35 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht) and inferred resources of 6.7 million tonnes at 36 cpht, with a diamond value estimated at $65 per carat. The modelled grade of the KX36 kimberlite ranges from 57 cpht to 76 cpht, with the potential to fetch up to $107 per carat.
If funding is secured, Botswana Diamonds plans to begin drilling operations during the Kalahari dry season, which runs from April to October next year. The company sees this approval as a significant step toward further diamond discoveries in the region.
“We believe the Kalahari will become the next major diamond province in Botswana,” said John Teeling, chairperson of Botswana Diamonds.
“We own 100% of KX36, the only kimberlite discovered in the area, but kimberlites are typically found in clusters. Our ongoing analysis has identified anomalies close to KX36 and the closed Ghaghoo mine, and we now have the necessary environmental approvals to begin drilling these targets.”
Teeling further emphasized the importance of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, noting that the approval signals Botswana Diamonds’ commitment to responsible and sustainable exploration practices. The company’s plans to drill the new targets align with its broader goal of expanding its resource base and unlocking the potential of the Kalahari’s untapped diamond reserves.
Botswana Diamonds is now poised to move forward with its drilling program, which could bring fresh insight into the region’s diamond potential and further solidify its standing in the global diamond industry.
