Key points
- Namco concluded a ten-year exclusive agreement with SubSea Offshore Limited, a Dresser Industries subsidiary, to design, build and operate a marine diamond mining system (NAMSSOL) at an estimated cost of US$20 million, targeting commercial production in the third quarter of 1997.
- The company filed an application with Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy for a mining licence over its Luderitz Bay Grant.
- NAMSSOL is designed to operate 20 hours a day for at least 300 days a year in swells up to six metres, treating 300,000 to 400,000 sq m of seabed and delivering at least one million cubic metres of solids annually at over 90% recovery efficiency, with onboard processing via a 50 tonne-per-hour heavy media separation plant built by Batemans.
- Mining will begin at the Koichab deposit in the Luderitz Bay Grant, where average stone size is 0.36 carat and average stone value is US$200 per carat, with a first-vessel production target of at least 150,000 carats per year.
The company has concluded an agreement with SubSea Offshore Limited for
the design and construction of a marine diamond mining system, (NAMSSOL). Work on the system will start immediately with the objective of commencing commercial production in third quarter 1997. The estimated cost of the project based on a long term charter of one vessel including commissioning and sea trial costs is US$20 million.
SubSea Offshore is a subsidiary of Dresser Industries and is the world
leader in the design, manufacture and operation of remote operated underwater vehicles. SubSea has agreed to act exclusively for Namco in the design, building and operation of underwater diamond mining machines for ten years.
In addition, the company has filed an application to the Ministry of
Mines and Energy for a mining licence over its Luderitz Bay Grant, Namibia.
The mining system is targeted to achieve operation at an average rate of
20 hours per day for a minimum of 300 days per year in sea swells of up to six metres. The NAMSSOL is specified to treat between 300,000 and 400,000 sq m of sea bed and to deliver not less than one million cubic metres of solids in its yearly production cycle, cleaning diamonds from the sea floor with not less than 90% efficiency. Processing of material will be on board the ship through a 50 tonne per hour heavy media separation plant which will be designed and built by a South African diamond recovery plant company, Batemans.
SubSea Offshore is acting as project manager for the preparation and
commissioning of NAMSSOL and for the complete vessel and processing spreads. It will operate the mining system and assist with training prior to transfer of operational expertise to Namco. This will also enable the company to effect its stated policy of Namibianization.
Steffen, Robertson and Kirsten, consulting engineers, is providing
independent technical advice to the company and has advised in the selection of the mining system.
The company has also completed its Environmental Impact Assessment Report
and has adopted ISO 14,000, a comprehensive international environmental
standard.
Mining will commence in the Luderitz Bay Grant’s Koichab deposit, Namibia
where the average stone size is 0.36 carat and the average stone value US$200 per carat.
The company’s objective for its first mining vessel is to produce not
less than 150,000 carats per year.
