• 2016 TOP PERFORMERS | PETRA DIAMONDS CULLINAN C-CUT LSE-listed Petra Diamonds’ R4.2 billion C-Cut Phase 1 project – focused on breathing new life into a mine well over 100 years old – is entering the final leg of its journey. Having nearly completed all major development work, key focus is now being injected into ramping up production to reach nameplate capacity in 2019. A recent site visit to the project reveals a new state-of-the- art mine which incorporates modern infrastructure, equipment and processes designed to see Cullinan not only return to its heyday years but possibly surpass them, writes LAURA CORNISH. IN SHORT Development work at the C-Cut project is nearing completion – enabling the Cullinan team to focus primarily on ramping up production to reach nameplate capacity in 2019. P etra Diamonds’ plan to develop a new mine at Cullinan has been its vision since it acquired the asset from De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM) in 2008 as a going concern. Petra Diamonds owns 74% of Cullinan, with the remaining 26% held by the company’s BEE partners (The Itumeleng Petra Diamonds Employee Trust: 12% and Kago Diamonds: 14%). Today, six years since the C-Cut project first commenced, the vision is materialising as the mine completes the last few outstanding infrastructure requirements necessary to see a full- scale production ramp-up commence which will take the mine to its nameplate capacity. R3.4 billion of the R4.2 billion has been spent placing the project well within budget allocation. Production ore tip feeding via the ore crusher onto the production conveyor belt. It is designed for LHD trucks to tip from three different directions and is installed with two Atlas Copco RB600 rock-breakers to size the material 20 MINING REVIEW AFRICA | DECEMBER 2016