Karowe Underground Project Reaches Key Milestones as Lucara Delivers Strong Results

Karowe Underground Project Reaches Key Milestones as Lucara Delivers Strong RResults. Lucara Diamond Corp has reported a solid operational performance for 2025 at its flagship Karowe Mine, underscoring both production success and progress on the transformative Karowe Underground Project (UGP).

During the year, the mine processed 2.79 million tonnes of ore and recovered 354,467 carats, including a remarkable number of large, high-value diamonds. Among these were 772 special stones weighing more than 10.8 carats, representing 7.1% of total carats recovered. The mine also produced 31 diamonds exceeding 100 carats, including three exceptional stones weighing more than 1,000 carats.

Operations remained stable throughout 2025, with no production disruptions, strikes, or lockouts reported. A major highlight was the advancement of the UGP, a strategic investment designed to unlock the highest-value portion of the orebody that has produced world-renowned diamonds such as the Lesedi La Rona (1,109 carats), Sethunya (549 carats), and the record-breaking Motswedi (2,488 carats).

The underground expansion, expected to extend Karowe’s mine life to 2038, achieved significant milestones. Both the 776-metre production shaft and the 729-metre ventilation shaft reached final depth, while underground lateral development progressed to link the shafts and prepare access to the orebody.

Safety performance was equally notable, with the project surpassing 2,000 days without a lost-time injury and recording a Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) of 0.56.Looking ahead, Lucara is advancing shaft equipping and underground infrastructure development, with production planned for 2028. The updated capital estimate for the project stands at US$779.2 million, reinforcing its central role in Lucara’s long-term growth strategy.

Karowe General Manager Johane Mchive noted that the next phase will focus on shaft equipping, lateral development, and ore extraction, all while maintaining the safety culture and operational excellence that define the project.