De Beers Group
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Beers Group The diamond producers that continue to sparkle
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here are few organisations that can claim to have altered consumer behaviour by advancing a tradition that continues to grow today, but the De Beers Group deservedly can. Marking one of life’s biggest occasions, De Beers is credited with influencing the rise in demand for diamond engagement rings. The company has a proven track record in marketing too, after hiring the ad agency in 1947 that coined the timeless slogan ‘A diamond is forever’. Established in 1888, De Beers Group has 128 years of history, experience and involvement in the diamond industry. From exploration and mining to sorting and selling the final product, De Beers is one of the most important organisations in one of the most lucrative sectors.
Established in 1989 Inspection and Quality Services provides Project Quality Management, Engineering Inspection, NDT & Training on a global basis to engineering, mining, manufacturing, oil, gas and petrochemical industries. IQS International is proud to be the appointed Project Quality Management service provider for the Venetia Underground Project and for the De Beers Marine offshore mining fleet.
For further details visit www.quality.co.za or contact Alan Stothard +27 72 659 1776
World leaders Taking the title as one of the best known diamond companies on Earth, De Beers takes its position and responsibility seriously. Employing over 20,000 people, De Beers aims to have a positive impact on both the economy and community impacted by its activities and employs local workers where possible. Answerable to two shareholders, Anglo American and the Government of the Republic of Botswana, De Beers prides itself on safely and sustainably making the most out of every carat it mines and sells. The company is involved in almost every stage of the diamond pipeline and remains focused on its vision and values of pursuing brilliance. With mining taking place in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa, De Beers make diamonds available to buyers across the globe. ‘Super-pit’ status The company continues to invest in the future with a number of multi-million dollar projects. It aims to boost diamond production whilst also benefiting the communities in the areas in which it operates. In Botswana, De Beers is expecting to generate more than 1,000 jobs and contribute US$31 billion by extending the life of Jwaneng Mine, which opened in 1982 to at least 2035. In 2018, Cut-8 will become the main source of ore for Botswana’s Jwaneng Mine, one of the world’s richest diamond mines by value. It is named Cut-8 because it’s the eighth expansion of the mine. Part of the joint venture between De Beers and the Government of the Republic of Botswana, the project is anticipated to deliver access to 93 million carats of mostly high-quality diamonds. The development will enhance Jwaneng Mine to one of the largest open pit mines in the world. When it reaches operational phase, the project will support more than 4,500 jobs per year.
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DELIVERING Absolute PEAce of mind
Established in London during the great South African diamond rush of the 1870’s, Bonas is the oldest and most established Diamond Broking and Consulting firm in the world and operates in : where we support our clients’ relationships with the sales & marketing arms of the De Beers Group of Companies; using our experience and exceptional market knowledge to deliver value on a wide array of industry related projects to clients, including diamantaires, retailers, brands, governments and bankers; leveraging our modern infrastructure, in-house systems, processes and enormous placing power to provide an easy route to market and incomparable visibility to both buyers and sellers of rough & polished.
ANTWERP I DUBAI I GABORONE I HONG KONG I JOHANNESBURG I LONDON I MUMBAI I NEW YORK I SURAT I TEL AVIV
Going Underground – Venetia Mine Opened in 1992, Venetia Mine is South Africa’s largest diamond producing mine and is one of De Beers’ ongoing growth projects. As it approached the depth limit of openpit operations, De Beers decided to build the Venetia underground mine beneath the open pit that had proved so successful. Excavation work to extend the mine underground is costing US$2 billion, making Venetia Mine the biggest single investment in South Africa’s diamond industry in decades. Whilst production is scheduled to begin in 2022, the extension has already seen 1,500 jobs created for local people and 500 additional jobs are expected to be added when major underground work begins. This new stage of development began in 2013, coinciding with De Beers’ 125th anniversary. The project is planned to climb to full production in 2025, by which time it will treat approximately 132 million tonnes of ore. The tunnel involves driving two vertical shafts, each seven
metres in diameter to a depth of 1,080 metres. This tunnel decline that will provide access to the underground mine is an operation that will take until 2018. The underground mine is expected to unearth an estimated 94 million carats and extend the country’s largest producer of diamonds’ life expectancy to 2046. In line with De Beers’ ethos of ensuring its projects benefit the local community, houses are being built in nearby Musina to accommodate workers and support will be given to improve local roads as part of the project. A diamond is forever Consistent with its well-known marketing tag line, De Beers is committed to ensuring sustainability is at the heart of its business strategy. It recognises the importance of its responsibilities to ensure it protects both its stakeholders and licence to operate. De Beers aims to create a lasting positive legacy, through its own operations as well as partnership activities with others. As well as domestically, De Beers is dedicated to protecting its industry further afield by ensuring its products do not fund wars or finance violence. In 2003, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was launched to stop the trade of ‘conflict diamonds’. All of De Beers’ diamonds are certified as conflict free which enables the company to provide consumers with peace of mind. Through sharing the aspirations of its producer partner countries, De Beers believes its business is a catalyst for delivering socio-economic benefits and is able to drive enduring changes across both the industry and communities in which it operates.
The man behind the mines Philippe Mellier has been the Chief Executive of De Beers since May 2011 and was appointed to the De Beers SA Board simultaneously. Prior to De Beers, Mellier was the Executive Vice-President of the Alstom Group following a long career in various senior management positions at Ford Motor Company, Renault and Volvo Group. Born in France, Mellier graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1979.
Oliver Moy Publisher For enquiries email okm@aubusinesscoverage.com