De Beers has announced that it is seeking “expressions of interest from potential buyers” for its Voorspoed mine in South Africa.
According to a press release, the miner decided to put the mine on the market “to provide the opportunity for responsible lower-cost operators to employ a different operating model that could potentially extend the mine’s operating life beyond 2020, thereby contributing to the host community through continued employment opportunities and economic activity”.
Phillip Barton, CEO of De Beers Consolidated Mines, commented that, though the company is “very proud” of the mine’s team, it also believes that “the most responsible course of action is to give other lower-cost operators the opportunity to purchase the mine and potentially extend its life, as this will maximise the benefit for the community and the mine’s workers”.
After disposing of Voorspoed, De Beers’ portfolio in South Africa will include only the Venetia mine in Limpopo Province.
