Diamond giant on the way
N$1.1 billion investment could be recovered within 31 months
Augetto GraigDebmarine Namibia has invested N$1.1 billion in state-of-the-art diamond recovery equipment, unveiled at the Port of Cape Town last week.
Speaking at the launch event, Debmarine CEO Willy Mertens announced that two new underwater recovery crawlers will be deployed in Namibian waters by the end of this month aboard the flagship vessel Benguela Gem. The crawlers are expected to boost production by up to 20%, equivalent to around 80 000 carats - the combined output of the vessels Grand Banks and Coral Sea, which are being retired from the fleet.
At this rate, the investment is expected to be recovered within 31 months.
Each crawler, made of 370 tonnes of high-tech steel, moves along the seabed, vacuuming up to half a metre deep to recover diamonds while returning excess gravel into the Atlantic Ocean. The new version, building on the original 2003 design, offers greater power (3.4 MW), enhanced pumping capacity, and a 20-metre swing arc, the result of continuous technological development over the past two decades.
Developed in-house in collaboration with Upstream Technology, the innovation is expected to significantly strengthen Debmarine, a 50/50 joint venture between De Beers and the Namibian government.
Kevin Smith, chairman of the Debmarine board and executive vice-president of corporate affairs and strategy at De Beers, highlighted the milestone: “This is the future. It’s much more efficient, and this investment of over a billion Namibia dollars secures our future well beyond 2030 and 2040.”
‘Stepping stone’
Board vice-chairman Shakwa Nyambe described the move as a “stepping stone” towards developing technologies capable of operating in more challenging areas within the Atlantic 1 mining licence zone.
Smith reaffirmed the strength of the longstanding partnership between De Beers and the Namibian government, which dates back to 1994. Ongoing negotiations on the partnership agreement must conclude by 16 May 2026, when the current deal expires.
Despite current challenges in the natural diamond market, including reduced demand and lower prices, Smith expressed optimism: “Our confidence in the future of the natural diamond market is unwavering. Marine diamonds from Namibia are the brightest and remain highly sought-after.”
Nyambe added that Debmarine’s focus on sustainability, innovation and investment in its workforce should serve as an example for other Namibian companies.
“We have invested a lot in technology, and we have invested a lot in our people. That combination of technology, innovation, sustainability and employee care will enable Debmarine to achieve even greater things. Other companies can learn from our approach.”
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