Lucara Diamond completed shaft pre-sinking at its Karowe mine, in Botswana at the end of February.
Company vice president technical services John Armstrong said each shaft is about 52 metres below the collar.
“The final depth for the ventilation shaft is 730 m below surface, and 767 m below the surface for the production shaft,” he said.
The shaft sinking is set to be complete in 2024 while the ramp-up to production from the underground operation is expected for the second half of 2026.
The underground development will add 13 years to the life of mine.
“The Karowe mine is one of the world’s leading producers of high-value Type IIa diamonds and has produced three +1 000 ct diamonds since 2015, the only mine in recorded history to produce three +1 000 ct diamonds,” he said.
The shaft sinking projects had a one-year delay from the original feasibility schedule.
“However, during the pre-sink, and as the project is transitioning to the main sink, no significant challenges have been encountered thus far,” said Armstrong.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, in Zimbabwe Rough&Polished
Exclusive
The great reset: Paul Zimnisky on supply catharsis, De Beers' bargain and the case for natural diamonds
The natural diamond industry is in the throes of its most profound reset in a generation. Supply is plunging to its lowest level since 1987 and De Beers—once valued at over $9 billion—is reportedly being sold for as little as $1 billion.
Lab-grown...
10 august 2026
Roman Karakurkchi: Maintaining the highest standards of jewelry craftsmanship
Roman Karakurkchi is the founder of the Roman Karakurkchi jewelry brand and the International Jewellery School that brings together instructors from Russia, the USA, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Italy, and Germany, as well as students from 65 countries...
03 august 2026
Mehul Shah pledges to bring new approach to leading WFDB
Mehul N. Shah, who was elected in July as President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses at the 41st World Diamond Congress in Singapore, is one of India's best-known diamantaires and a prominent leader in the international diamond industry...
27 july 2026
Charlotte Rose on making history, modernising the London Diamond Bourse, and why finance is the industry’s silent crisis
When Charlotte Rose was elected president of the London Diamond Bourse in June 2026, she didn't just break an 86-year tradition—she became the first woman to lead any diamond bourse globally. In an exclusive interview with Rough & Polished’s Mathew...
20 july 2026
Yoram Dvash: Industry unity, producer leadership and marketing investment key to natural diamond's future
The natural diamond industry is navigating a period of significant transition, but there are increasing signs that the foundations for a stronger and more positive future are being built, according to the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB)...
29 june 2026
