Debswana, a joint diamond mining venture between De Beers and the Botswana government, has appointed Jim Gowans managing director.

Gowans has held a number of senior positions in De Beers as well as other mining companies operating in countries as diverse as the US, Chile, Indonesia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Canada and has experience in running large open-pit projects with an emphasis on responsible environmental practices, safety, and performance.

"Jim will be tasked with ensuring that Debswana's [diamond] mines are among the best-managed anywhere in the world," Debswana Board Chairman Nicky Oppenheimer said.

Gowans' appointment comes just as Debswana, which runs all of the diamond mining operations in Botswana, has undertaken a major project to extend the life of the country's Jwaneng diamond mine. Cut 8, as it is known, will cost some $3.63 billion and is expected to coax an additional 102 million carats of rough diamonds from the mine.

Debswana Board Deputy Chairman Eric Molale said that Gowans would be charged with developing a "new generation of leaders" for Debswana who would one day be responsible for "running the world's greatest diamond mines."