The southern coastal operation comprises one dry and two wet in-field screening plants, which upgrade the product taken to the treatment plant. As it is an alluvial recovery operation rather than a typical diamond mine, various innovative approaches are employed to recover the diamonds, including vacuum extractors and conveyors.

Inaugurated in 2014, Sendelingsdrif is the second-largest diamond deposit in the Orange River area after Daberas.

Land-based and coastal recovery operations production

322

thousand carats in 2020


330

thousand carats in 2021


412

thousand carats in 2022


468

thousand carats in 2023


609

thousand carats in 2024


647

thousand carats in 2025


PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW

It is critical that operations recovering diamonds onshore adhere to best practice standards that address business, social and environmental risks.

The following certification standards are all verified by third parties to demonstrate that land-based and coastal recovery operations production comply with strict and robust requirements that assess social and environmental issues, and the implementation of human rights due diligence frameworks.

  • Best Practice Principles
  • Ensuring that diamonds from DTC have met the highest professional, ethical and technical standards.
  • Learn more

Each year, emerging or evolving risks are considered, and appropriate standards are added to the BPP requirements to address these for annual verification.

  • RESPONSIBLE JEWELLERY COUNCIL
  • Addressing issues including human rights, labour rights, environmental impact, mining operations and product disclosure
  • Learn more

ISO 14001 is the international standard that specifies the requirements for an effective environmental management system. It provides a framework that an organisation can follow and subsequently be certified against. Being certified against this standard means an organisation has effectively demonstrated that they are running their organisation in an environmentally, and economically, sustainable manner.

ISO 45001:2018 is an international standard that sets out the requirements for occupational health and safety management. It provides guidance that an organisation can follow to develop their own health and safety framework and subsequently be certified against. Being certified against this standard means an organisation has effectively demonstrated that they have created the safest working conditions possible, has identified hazards and put in place controls to manage them, and has helped reduce workplace accidents and illnesses.

Date of Last BPP Audit BPP Compliant Highest Level of Finding RJC Certificate # RJC Certificate Expiry Date
24th – 27th June 2024 Compliant Compliant 0000 5985

View certificate

15th October 2027
ISO 45001:2018 certificate # ISO 45001:2018 certificate expiry date ISO 14001:2015 certificate # ISO 14001:2015 certificate expiry date
H1121 22 September 2026 AFR 20230715 10 May 2026
Social Way Implementation Overview

Social Way 3.0 was launched in January 2020.

In October 2021 it was announced that the life of the land-based and coastal recovery operations would be extended by up to 20 years. Previously the site’s Social Performance team had been focused on closure planning in accordance with a closure review action plan aligned with the Social Way 3.0.

As a result of their extended life, the land-based and coastal recovery operations adopted Social Way 3.0 in full in early 2022 and continue to implement it as best practice for Social Performance and Management.

The following foundational requirements are relevant for all operations:

  • 1. Governance
  • 2. Review & Planning
  • 3A. Stakeholder Engagement
  • 3B. Incident & Grievance Management
  • 3C. Social & Human Rights Risk & Impact Analysis

Certain risk-based requirements are also relevant for all operations:

  • 4A. Socio-Economic Development
  • 4B. Contractor Social Management
  • 4C. Community Health and Safety
  • 4D. Emergency Preparedness & Response
  • 4E. Voluntary Principles on Security & Human Rights

Of the context-specific requirements, the following have been screened in as applicable at the land-based and coastal recovery operations:

  • 4G. Site-Induced Migration
  • 4H. Cultural Heritage
  • 4J. Conflict Management

At the end of 2023 the land-based and coastal recovery operations assessed against all thirteen applicable requirements of Social Way 3.0 and the results of the assessment were incorporated into the site’s 2024 transition plan. Social Way continues to be the best practice tool for Social Performance and Management for 2025.

FOCUSING ON PEOPLE

The wealth created by Namibia's diamond industry has touched lives throughout the country.

As diamond recovery is based in the south of Namibia, much of the industry's support focuses on communities in the Kharas region. The industry supports many sectors, including education, business development, science, heritage and tourism, sports, health and welfare and nature conservation. Millions are contributed annually to support and uplift communities, primarily in Oranjemund, but also in other towns across Namibia.

One specific focus area is the transformation of the 80-year-old town of Oranjemund from a mine-owned and operated town to a sustainable town with a diversified economy beyond diamonds. This includes the transfer of ownership and management of the town and its municipal infrastructure to the Oranjemund Town Council (now completed), the sale of properties to residents and business owners at affordable prices, support of residents to evolve from employees into responsible citizens, and the normalisation of education and healthcare services. Ultimately, these efforts aim to diversify the local economy from the current diamond mining-only dependency.

Focus areas for economic diversification include, amongst others, SME development and support, tourism, art, education, healthcare, and agriculture. Enablement for diversification is also being supported through property development and improved connectivity, including a fibre-to-home project.

A community project in Oranjemund is supported to assist the 130 members, 80 of whom are women, to grow food and generate income. The non-for-profit organisation, OMD is Town Transform Agency (Pty) Ltd, created with the sole mandate to diversify the economy of Oranjemund and is pursuing the unlocking of agricultural land along the Orange River, one of the very few perennial rivers in Namibia. This initiative will support economic diversification, create jobs, and contribute to national food security.

protecting the environment

Land-based and coastal recovery operations are situated in the Tsau/ Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park, which calls for a commitment to responsible environmental management. All activities are designed to avoid, mitigate, and reduce environmental impacts.

To support this, a range of long‑term conservation, monitoring, and ecological programmes are in place, alongside an environmental management system aligned with the ISO 14001 international standard, which has been in operation for the past 25 years. Environmental clearances, environmental impact assessments, and biodiversity stewardship initiatives are also implemented. In addition, a rehabilitation plan provides for future land uses that include mining‑based, nature‑based, and conservation areas, with tourism forming part of long‑term planning.

Strengthening wildlife protection in Namibia is a key element of how diamond mining co‑exists with protected areas. In 2025, land‑based and coastal recovery operations in Namibia partnered with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) to support on‑the‑ground conservation efforts in Hardap National Park, with a primary focus on protecting black rhino populations.

Hardap National Park is home to the healthiest population of black rhinos in Namibia; however, poaching pressure has been increasing. In response, land‑based and coastal recovery operations in Namibia funded and constructed an anti‑poaching patrol camp, which was formally handed over to MEFT in 2025.

The facility serves as a permanent operational base for wildlife protection officers and police, working in partnership with farmers surrounding the park. From this base, teams are better able to monitor and respond to wildlife crime, with a particular focus on preventing black rhino poaching.

The patrol camp strengthens coordination, visibility, and response capacity, supporting MEFT’s ongoing efforts to protect wildlife in Hardap National Park.


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