Fluor Corporation has completed the $500 million infrastructure and plant upgrades on Debswana's Jwaneng Cut 8 expansion project, in Botswana.
This was part of the $3 billion expansion programme at the diamond mine.
Fluor provided engineering, procurement and construction management services for the mine, regarded as the richest diamond mine by value in the world.
"Executing a project inside an operational mine is a challenging task and we are proud to complete the project with minimal disruption and impact to production," said Fluor's executive general manager for Mining & Metals, Matthew Cobbett.
The expansion at Jwaneng enabled the removal of overburden, which will see the mine access 91 million tonnes of ore that would yield about 102 million carats and extend the life of the mine to 2025.
"Fluor has set the highest standard of performance commensurate with their world class position," said Jwaneng Mine general manager Balisi Bonyongo.
Meanwhile, the engineering company said it would continue supporting Debswana and was currently undertaking a pre-feasibility study for a new treatment plant at Letlhakane Diamond Mine, north of Botswana's capital, Gaborone.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
