Debswana, the joint venture between De Beers and the Botswana government, has reported a fatality at its Jwaneng mine.
The incident, which occurred on Monday, involved a crane and a drill rig, resulting in the death of an employee from one of Debswana’s contracting companies.
Details of the Incident
According to a statement from Debswana, the accident took place on the morning of June 17, 2024. The company expressed regret and sadness over the incident, confirming that an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatality. A spokesperson for the company emphasized, “Debswana is providing full support to the family, and we kindly request that they be accorded due respect and privacy during this difficult time.”
Safety Record and Context
This tragedy marks the first fatality at a De Beers mine since 2022. It follows a previous road accident in September 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 20 employees from De Beers’ Venetia mine in South Africa. Historical data from a presentation at the JCK Las Vegas show indicates that De Beers experienced three fatalities in 2018, none between 2019 and 2021, and one in 2022.
The Jwaneng mine, a key asset in De Beers’ portfolio, contributed around 2.5 million carats of diamonds out of De Beers’ total of 6.9 million carats in the first quarter of this year.
