MANAGEMENT SYSTEM NEWS Jwaneng Diamond Mine Chooses Gemcom Software

JWANENG, Botswana GEMCOM SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL has won a contract to supply Debswana's Jwaneng mine with a complete mine production management solution (MPMS). DEBSWANA is owned equally by DE BEERS CENTENARY and the government of the REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA.

The Jwaneng kimberlite pipe was discovered under the Kalahari Desert in 1972. A decade later diamond production was begun, and the mine now sells about 12 million carats annually. Jwaneng is perhaps the world's most profitable kimberlite pipe. In 2001 it produced about 19% of the world's diamonds by value. Reserves are believed sufficient to support the current rate of production for 40 years.

Headquartered in Vancouver, Gemcom has a solid customer base of over 1,000 mine sites in over 85 countries. It sells its software to such industry leaders as Anglo American, Codelco, De Beers, Noranda, Rio Tinto, Teck Cominco, and CVRD. Visit Gemcom's web site, www.gemcomsoftware.com, for more information.