Actress Lupita Nyong'o at Venetia mine
Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has visited De Beers’ Venetia diamond mine, in Limpopo.
As a De Beers global ambassador, she was shown how each facet of the production value chain supports sustainable development. Her visit included a tour of the 32 000 ha Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve adjacent to the mine, which De Beers uses for nature conservation.
The Venetia mine started production in 1993 and has grown to be the country’s leading diamond mine, accounting for about 40% of the country’s natural diamond production.
De Beers showcased to the actress how the company is empowering communities around the mine through projects that support equal opportunities for women and provide educational, entrepreneurial and essential infrastructure development.
Nyong’o commended De Beers for enabling women to break barriers and achieve real success in a sector that has traditionally been dominated by men.
De Beers group managed operations CEO Moses Madondo says there are often misperceptions about diamond mining, hence the company taking the opportunity to showcase best practice employment and sustainability standards to a De Beers ambassador such as Nyong’o.
The Venetia mine is currently being expanded to an underground mine, which should see it through to the mid-2040s.
The $2.3-billion underground development project represents the biggest single investment having been made in South Africa’s diamond mining industry in decades.
The transition to underground operations also involves re-training Venetia’s 4 000 employees, especially in new, high-tech skills needed to run the largely mechanised operation.