Diamonds have fascinated the human imagination for centuries. Apart from being valued for their beauty, they were believed to possess spiritual powers that would bring good fortune and keep bad spirits away. Have you ever wondered where the place behind this fascination of diamonds lies? This place holds the nickname ‘Prince of Mines’ where the world’s richest mine is found.
The same constant fascination continues unchecked to this day, with men and women pursuing the biggest, the most uncommon, and costliest gems. Know more about diamonds, its fascination and the place where the richest diamond mine in the world is found.
World’s wealthiest diamond mine also called ‘Prince of Mines’
At the heart of this contemporary search is the Jwaneng Diamond Mine in Botswana, the world’s wealthiest diamond mine. Nicknamed the “Prince of Mines,” Jwaneng rests in an ancient volcanic crater some 170 kilometers southwest of the capital city, Gaborone. It belongs to Debswana, a 50-50 joint venture between the government of Botswana and De Beers, one of the most recognizable names in the diamond industry.
Jwaneng, or “a gem place” in Setswana, is a name that says it all—a name that the operation richly deserves for living up to its name time and time again. Since operations began in 1982, Jwaneng has produced millions of carats of diamonds. Three giant kimberlite pipes, volcanic rock structures known to be diamondiferous, dominate its production.
In 2023, Jwaneng mined a record 13.3 million carats of diamonds, solidifying its reputation as the world’s richest diamond mine, valued at an estimated £1 billion.
Background of Jwaneng Diamond Mine, Botswana
The background of Jwaneng dates from the 1970s when geologists at De Beers discovered the kimberlite-bearing zone. The initial geological discovery soon turned out to be a world-class mining venture. There have been various developments to the mine over the years in order to make it more productive and lengthen the years it has to operate.
One of such significant developments is the Cut-9 project, which is a £1.5 billion project to add more years to the life of the mine to a minimum of 2035. The project is expected to produce an extra 53 million carats of diamonds. In January 2024, a project to extend the underground was officially sanctioned. The expensive but visionary plan would not only increase diamond production but also generate approximately £20 billion of profit in the next decades. Other than this, the plan will create thousands of jobs that will enhance the economic resilience both at the national and local community level.
Jwaneng is vital to the economy of the nation, contributing 60 to 70 percent of Debswana’s overall revenue. Its prosperity reconfirms Botswana as one of the dominant players in the international diamond market.
Jwaneng: Technological powerhouse in diamond mining
The mineral extraction in Jwaneng is technologically sophisticated and extremely efficient. Bulk drilling begins the process to grind rock that travels to the plant by massive vehicles. In the plant, the sophisticated equipment includes X-ray fluorescence and laser sorters—which are housed in advanced units called CARP (Completely Automated Recovery Plant) and FISH (Fully Integrated Sort House)—and they precisely pinpoint diamonds from ore.
In spite of its mammoth size, Jwaneng has also started to undertake environmentally friendly mining. Like all big mines, it struggles with dealing with waste rock and ecological footprint. It was, however, the first mine operation to be ISO 14001 certified in Botswana in 2000 as a reward for its initiatives towards environmentally friendly practices.
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