Digging for Billions: Inside the World's Mega Diamond Mines

2. Orapa Diamond Mine (Botswana)

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Another pillar of Botswana's diamond business is the Orapa Diamond Mine, whose name, Setswana's "resting place of lions," reflects The biggest diamond mine in the world by area, Orapa is east-central Botswana's gem roughly 240 kilometres west of Francistown. Debswana, the joint venture between De Beers and the Botswana government, runs it, much like Jwaneng is run. The history of Orapa begins in 1967 when a group of De Beers geologists came upon the kimberlite pipe destined for the mine. Orapa Debswana's oldest running mine started production in 1971. Covering 118 hectares and reaching a depth of about 250 metres, the mine is open-pit. With this large-scale operation, around 12 million tonnes of ore can be annually processed and over 11 million carats of diamonds can result. Orapa's importance goes well beyond its really outstanding output numbers. Orapa is absolutely vital for Botswana's economy as part of Debswana's activities. Driven by mines like Orapa and Jwaneng, the diamond sector provides around one-third of Botswana's GDP and eighty percent of its exports. Funding the nation's development—including advances in infrastructure, healthcare, and education—has been much aided by this economic contribution. Orapa significantly affects nearby towns. The mine has helped the Orapa township—which has expanded into a vibrant community with contemporary conveniences—develop. Debswana houses, educates, and runs a hospital serving the broader community as well as my staff. This kind of community development has established a benchmark for mining industry corporate social responsibility. A major emphasis at Orapa is also environmental sustainability. The mine runs the 48,000-hectare Orapa Game Park, a wildlife reserve safeguarding several species including giraffes, rhinos, and many birdlife. Together with its mining activities, this project shows the mine's dedication to preserve biodiversity. Looking ahead, Orapa keeps spending in technical developments to raise sustainability and efficiency. Advanced ore sorting technologies and automated drilling systems seek to lower energy consumption and raise diamond recovery rates by their application. These developments not only increase the mine's output but also help to ensure its long-term viability, therefore guaranteeing Orapa's indispensible value in Botswana's diamond sector for many years to come.