Investment by The De Beers Group of Companies in skills training for the local workforce and social projects increased 13% to US$52.5 million in 2015, according to the company’s Report to Society. De Beers also improved its environmental performance, with reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions.
The diamond miner invested US$24.3 million in development training for its workforce in 2015, a 30% increase on the US$18.8 million the company invested in 2014. The company also invested US$28.2 million in social projects, which benefited 47,800 people in its producer countries – an increase from the US$27.6 million it invested in 2014.
The report also shows that safety performance continued to improve in 2015, with De Beers achieving a 15% reduction in the total recordable case frequency rate.
“Investing for the long term, driving positive change and unlocking opportunities through diamond development are at the core of what we do and I am very proud of our performance in these areas in 2015. However, positive performance must not be seen as grounds for complacency and we will redouble our efforts in 2016 so that diamonds continue to have a positive and lasting impact for our partners, our employees and the communities in which we operate,” comments De Beers Group Chief Executive Philippe Mellier.
