The De Beers Group is developing a new technology that will allow production to be carried out at medium-deep marine diamond deposits.
Bloomberg agency quoted De Beers manager Namibia Daniel Kali as saying that the new technology will allow De Beers to extract diamonds from offshore deposits located in crevices and areas with a rocky bottom at a depth of 30 to 50 meters and to extend the service life concessions for the period after 2050.
The government of Namibia and De Beers own equal shares in the joint venture Namdeb, whose division Debmarine develops sea mines at a depth of 90 to 140 meters.
"Production at medium-deep areas will be possible due to a technological breakthrough that will allow developing these deposits," Kali said. "Large-scale work has already been done and certain results have been obtained, but so far researchers can not be fully satisfied with these achievements."
According to Bloomberg, diamond reserves on the coast of Namibia in the Atlantic Ocean are estimated at 80 million carats.