Namdeb Diamond Corporation's Bogenfels diamond project has reached the end of its mine life and will be closed, Namdeb has announced.

The Bogenfels diamond mine was envisaged to be a one-to two-year project when it was originally commissioned. It exceeded expectations and outlived the two-year expectation, providing work for 124 employees.

De Beers – a partner, along with the Namibian government, in Namdeb – reports that an environemental rehabilitation project has been initiated for the area that will require the services of a reduced number of employees from the Bogenfels operation. The rehabilitation project has commenced and is expected to be completed by July 2011.

Meanwhile, all efforts are being made to accommodate affected employees by placing them at other Namdeb operations.