Marine diamond recovery Namibia’s next evolution

7th June 2019 By: Natasha Odendaal - Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Marine diamond recovery represents the next step in Namibia’s rich history, with much to gain economically in the years ahead, Debmarine Namibia CEO Otto Shikongo asserts.

The success of public–private joint venture Debmarine illustrates the possibilities of attaining environmental sustainability, local empowerment of communities and economic progression, while undertaking marine extraction activities.

The marine diamond recovery partnership between the government of Namibia and De Beers Group contributes about 70% of the country’s total diamond production, while also being highly environmentally sustainable.

“Debmarine Namibia produced around 1.4-million diamond carats in 2018 alone, and our unique recovery technology has further ensured that the seabed is largely restored to its natural state after our operations move on,” says Shikongo.

The marine diamond exploration and mining technology group operates six purpose-fitted vessels designed to recover diamonds across a 3 500 km area off the Namibian coast in the Atlantic Ocean’s Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem.

Debmarine’s diamond recovery impacts on a very small area of about 1.2% of the ecosystem and is deemed to be of low significance at regional scale.

Some 99% of the sediment where the company operates to depths of between 120 m and 140 m is discharged and settles back on the seabed floor.

The ability to undertake mineral recovery in an environmentally sustainable way is one of the key messages the group aims to impart.

“We have further made use of a seabed monitoring programme, which is guided by a committee that includes independent scientists from academia and industry,” he adds.

In addition, Debmarine has managed to leverage mineral recovery activities to empower communities.

“When Debmarine Namibia started operations in 2002, it was largely a foreign-owned company whose workforce consisted of only 14% Namibians,” he explains, pointing out that the company’s staff complement now comprises 86% Namibians, with nearly 50% of shore-based female staff.

“Our employees are based all over Namibia, with representation in almost all 14 regions, and we invest N$100-million a year to train our staff. In fact, 10% of our employees are currently trainees.”

The group reported investment of about N$9-million a year in various courses, ranging from education, health, security and sport, through the company’s social investment fund and small and medium-sized business development through the Debmarine-Namdeb Foundation.

Shikongo highlights the economic relevance of mineral recovery, despite the economic growth challenges that Namibia has experienced in recent years.

“Marine diamond recovery continues to be an area of hope for our country’s current and future financial prospects.”

While many alluvial diamond mines on land have reached end-of-life, after a 110-year history, marine diamond recovery is still in its nascent stages, with Debmarine’s life-of-mine expected to be 31 years to 2050.