De Beers Merges South Africa, Canada Assets

RAPAPORT… De Beers will combine its mining ventures in South Africa
and Canada to streamline operational management and increase sustainability, it
said Monday.



The new business, De Beers Group Managed Operations, will
oversee the Venetia and Gahcho Kué mines, as well as the De Beers Marine
project. The consolidation comes after the closure of the Snap Lake and
Voorspoed deposits, as well as the impending termination of the Victor mine in
May.


Nompumelelo (Mpumi) Zikalala, deputy CEO of De Beers
Consolidated Mines, the company’s South African business, will become managing director for the new venture, and will
lead the restructuring, the company said. Allan Rodel will be head of
operations. De Beers will employ a management group, based in Johannesburg, to
run operations, with a support team based in Canada.


“We are delighted to appoint Mpumi into this new and vitally
important position to focus on growing a profitable and sustainable business in
both South Africa and Canada,” said De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver. “Our businesses
in these countries face very different challenges and require a leader of
Mpumi’s skill, vision and experience to maximize their full potential.”


In her new role, Zikalala will replace De Beers Consolidated
Mines CEO Phillip Barton, who has been with the miner for more than 30 years,
and Kim Truter, CEO of De Beers Canada, who will both leave the company.


Image: Nompumelelo (Mpumi) Zikalala. (De Beers)