15 Sep 2024

 It is expected that Lerala Diamond Mine will start production April next year, a development that is hoped to liven up the village and the nearby ones.

The once operational mine is anticipated to produce between 213 760 and 316 890 carats per annum from five kimberlites located within the mining license.

Lerala Diamond Mine, the sole asset of Maroon Capital is being developed subsequent to 100 per cent acquisition from the liquidator of Kimberly Diamonds.

According to Maroon Capital- Lerala Diamond Mine, director of operations, Mr Oteng Sekeletu, 69 people would be hired during the first phase while hiring in the second phase would be as per the technical requirement needs. 

Site establishment and delivery of mining heavy plant equipment is ongoing and other machinery is due for delivery in October together with recruitment of key personnel.

Larala mine has had four previous companies who all failed and its future success lies in the adoption of new processing technology, which was not available the last time the kimberlites were mined, Mr Sekeletu said, adding that a modern approach to mining and processing, installation of electricity and a break from old fashioned marketing of the diamonds should be adopted.

Mr Sekeletu said mining of the five kimberlites within the mining license would be opencast and the main mining operations would be done using heavy hydraulic breakers attached to appropriately sized excavators.

The circuit to process the ore at Lerala Diamond Mine is a major break from previous technologies used at the mine and the Dense Media Separation (DMS) plant, which was used by the previous operators and has been determined to have serious design faults is being replaced by high technologically advanced high tonnage X-ray Process Plant, said Mr Seleku.

 ‘’The previous operators used 18mm screens allowing for a maximum of 70 carat sized diamonds to be recovered,’’ he said.

News of resuscitating the mine, located approximately 16km south of the village, has been highly welcomed by residents of Lerala and surrounding villages who are hoping for employment opportunities.

Kgosi Sello Moroka of Lerala believes that the mine could improve the living standards of residents because many are unemployed.

He said the youth engaged in criminal activities because they were idle and hoped that the new owners were in it for the long haul.

Kgosi Baikananyi Ramanje of Mananye ward in Seolwane and wife Gosalamang were pleased that Lerala Diamond Mine would operate again and it would contribute positively to the region.

Residents will lease out their houses to mine employees, Ms Baikananyi said and encouraged them to come up with ideas that would benefit not only them, but the mine.

Ms Bokamoso Rannyena, a Lerala youth, Ms Johanna Madoko and Ms Auma Letletse also wait in anticipation that the mine would boost their businesses, which include catering and dressmaking. Ends