DIAMONDS
Karowe Diamond Mine on track to unlock underground potential
Canadian diamond mining company, Lucara Diamond Corp. and mining projects specialist, United Mining Services (UMS), recently celebrated two key milestones ‒production shaft last blast and 2 000 lost time injury free days ‒ in the development of the Karowe underground project (UGP), located in Botswana.
“R eaching the end of a sink is a massive celebration signalling that the riskiest phase of the shaft sinking process is now complete. This phase has been delivered ahead of contractual schedule and, most impressively, without a single Lost Time Injury (LTI),” UMS CEO Digby Glover told industry stakeholders attending the celebration. William Lamb, CEO of Lucara Diamond Corp. echoed the sentiment, adding that the company achieved a milestone that was unbelievable – “successfully sinking two shafts through two aquifers, sandstone and mudstone”. “At Karowe, we measure safety against Lucara’s standards, which are much higher than industry standards. The 2 000 LTI free days, which represent five-and-a-half years of our people returning home safely every day, are now the foundation on which we will drive the rest of this project.” Owned by Lucara Diamond Corp.’s subsidiary Lucara Botswana, the Karowe Diamond Mine is one of the world’s leading producers of large, high-quality Type IIA diamonds. The open pit mine, which has been in production since 2012, is nearing of the end of its life of mine (LOM), with the Karowe underground development set to extend mine life, starting in 2028. UMS is involved in sinking the twin shafts, equipping, and
infrastructure development for the Karowe underground project (UGP). The UGP, which will access Karowe’s high-value orebody, involves sinking production and ventilation shafts to 770 metres and developing multiple working levels. Full-scale underground production is scheduled for the first half of 2028. “Developing an underground mine is no mean feat—it demands time, significant investment, and the ability to navigate risks, both known and unforeseen. It requires the dedication, expertise, and resilience of a diverse team working towards a shared goal. UMS’s involvement with this project began six years ago, in 2019, during the final stages of the feasibility study. Our initial role was to review the shaft component, prepare designs for early works, and initiate long-lead procurement. Since then, the journey has been transformative,” said Glover. While underground development is important to the future of the Karowe Diamond Mine, it also holds significance for many stakeholders, including the host community. According to Glover, apart from creating employment for the people of Letlhakane and across Botswana, the project has fostered high-performing teams with rare and valuable shaft sinking skills. “By being deployed on future underground projects, these skills can serve ongoing operations or can contribute to the broader growth of Botswana’s mining economy.”
14 MODERN MINING www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | NOVEMBER2025
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