Botswana’s economic success is founded on its natural resources, particularly diamonds. Today, it is the leading producer of gem-quality diamonds in the world, totalling 24.6 million carats per year, and representing one third of the country’s GDP. Since mining began in 1971, the industry has catapulted the economy on to a course of sustained growth over most of the last quarter of the 20th century.
The majority of diamond mining is carried out by Debswana, a 50/50 partnership between De Beers and the Botswanan government. The company has three large, open-cast operations, responsible for almost the entire diamond yield of the country as a whole. The largest and richest of these mines is at Jwaneng, in the south of the country. Founded in 1973, but only in production since 1982, the mine is one of the largest in the world. Also founded in the same year was the mine at Letlhakane, which was in production by 1977. The third mine is at Orapa.
In addition to diamonds, the country is rich in copper and nickel, with salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore and silver to be found as well. Although diamonds account for some 60% of the country’s prospecting licences, the government is seeking to diversify its mineral output.