Venetia Mine ( De Beers Consolidated Mines Pty Ltd )
“ I believe we have managed to steer through most of the turmoil mines have seen of late through the social space and community involvement , by trying to understand the real needs of the community and by making a contribution ”
– Ludwig von Maltitz , GM
Diamonds are forever , and while the life of the Venetia Mine will eventually come to an end at some point in the future , that future is safeguarded thanks to a R20 billion ($ 2bn ) investment which will extend the life of the mine into the 2040s .
The diamond mine , which is located in the north of South Africa close to the Zimbabwe border some 80 kilometres west of Musina , has launched the construction phase of the Venetia Underground Project which will transform the open pit operation to an underground mine .
The project was launched in October 2013 and is a major boost for sustainable employment at the mine and amongst suppliers and the local communities . Additional jobs will peak at just over 1,100 in 2016 to 2019 during the lateral development and infrastructure phase of the underground project .
The mine was officially opened in August 1992 and is owned by De Beers Consolidated Mines ( DBCM ) which , since the Oppenheimer family sold off their 40 percent stake in the De Beers Group , is now a part of , and 85 percent owned by the global mining group Anglo American Plc .
Within the mining community , Venetia has built a solid reputation for its health and safety , environmental , corporate social responsibility and community-driven ethos which has seen it develop healthy relationships with external stakeholders .