Before Pete lectures me, I know that this is not confirmed facts, but it is the chatter on the Shop Floor this afternoon.....
Carat call dropped from 2 million to 1.2 million, for whatever reason, fires etc.....
The mine did a 'costing" to see ,who, if 4 plant or ptf plant produced diamonds the cheapest.... 4 plant lost.... now the people are claiming that there are plans afoot to close 4 Plant, the flagship lady of the mine after all these years..... , retrenchments are in the pipeline..... is Oranjemund at the end of the road?
Will keep you outsiders informed....
Mike,
IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME AT ALL...DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THE MINE THESE DAYS...PERHAPS THEY NEED TO LOOK AT HOW THE PEOPLE USED TO DO THINGS A FEW YEARS BACK...AND STRATEGISE!!!!!
I think, (not being a professional and all), that there are plenty of diamonds out there, I also think that there are wayyyyyyyy to many engineers with big plans, that don't work out and cost a bundle and then the poor artisan and plant helpers get retrenched........
Somebody told me that in it's heyday, this mine was producing 2 million carats with only 6 engineers, I believe that number is well pass the 30 mark ( engineers)
mmmh! maybe people like MR Carr knew all along!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I couldn't agree more with you.
Heard via the grape vine, that the mine had a big loss in past month.
Quote from: Cheleen on January 11, 2008, 07:27:11 AM
I couldn't agree more with you.
Heard via the grape vine, that the mine had a big loss in past month.
I think the mine had a great loss but "someone" else has had a big profit. (get my meaning)
Don't you just love Mining community rumours, Today the Pundits are saying that they won't retrench, they just will not be paying bounus's...... people in the know ( with contracts) reckon that there is still plenty of work to be done, and one company has to actually employ quite a few more artisans.....
Yes! You are right, the mine has lost a chunk of change, look at the MDP plant, built at a helluva cost, ran for three months and has now been shut down......
it's gonna be an interesting year.....
I also heard that we are getting expat Zimbabweans to do some work here, where's the Namibians?
"I also heard that we are getting expat Zimbabweans to do some work here, where's the Namibians?"
We are all leaving Mike, geeesssss, where have you been!
:culo1:
The question begs to be asked then, Why are the people leaving? Every day you see an advance removal truck at a house in the town....... idontknow
THE PEOPLE ARN'T BEING LOOKED AFTER BY THE COMPANY....!!!!!!!!!!!!! I KNOW!!!!!!!!!!! MAYBE THEY SHOULD DO SOME RESEARCH, RE WHY EVERYONE IS LEAVING...HUBBY WORKED AT THE MDP AND IS NOW MOVED TO ANOTHER PART OF THE MINE...WHY DID THEY PUT ALL THESE HARD WORKING MEN ON THE PROJECT...HE HAD TO WORKD WEEKEND AFTER WEEKEND, AND FOR WHAT!!!!! ZILTCH!!!!!! madashell
No more diamonds on the land.... it's all going offshore...
NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE, THEY MUST HAVE A PLAN B
This rumour is becoming stronger, with some pretty reliable sources adding their voices.... no retrenchments, but Voluntary separation for the old timers and the rest will be moved around the mine...... but at the end the actual plant called 4 plant will close.....
You Know!!!!!!...it wouldn't surprise me at all if they close the whole bloody mine....don't know why I still care, we are leaving anyway!!!!! It's just very disapointing... :36_2_24:
I heard again today from an extremely reliable source , that this is gonna be a very depressing year at NAMDEB, retrenchments en masse....... hospital, school, 4 plant.... to name a few...... the population of Omund is gonna be slashed.......... this was a good source........
Is your job safe Michael?
I don't work for the mine, but we depend on them spending their money in the shop.... as there numbers decrease, so will our workforce, currently 74...... so we'll still squeeze a few more years outta it....
What are the possibilities, in light of all the rumors that are becoming facts now, that the whole town may be privatised? Will the residents who want to stay on be allowed to purchase their houses from NAMDEB? I am thinking in the line of starting a total private town with private hospital facilities, holiday resort development, maybe a Golf Estate development, etc etc. Could be worth trying to find out about it. You never know - some guy may just have enough money to start investing in something like that, and the rest will follow.
Dalene, I cannot comment right now, time factor, but I will later on tonite...that idea was mine for a while, but nobody here wants to listen, especially the politicians, not that the time is almost here, they scurry around , like rats on the sinking ship.....
@ Mike
I remember when i started at CDM 1973, they said maximum 15 years left for mining.
Looking at it that way, it lasted much longer.
If Namdeb pulls out, the town has to operate like a community.
That means extra Tax and all things necessary to keep it going.
Start forming a party for upcoming elections of a mayor.......That has to and will happen, i see no other way and future.
The throughway will be used by tourists. The mine can become like a museum ( if they dont demolish )
Oranjemund Gateway to Lüderitz and or Richtersveld.
The Mine Dumps will attract stone collectors. The old Dumps will be ideal. I expect less crushed stones then i.e. at the newer plants 1 to 4 Plant.
Affenrücken could have been used as a stop for touries....
Hope they dont smash the whole place to pieces unless they are obliged to do so. Once its gone it is to late....
Take care
Hi Mike,
Concerning Namdeb, I actually heard the same thing from a source in Kimberley. This seems to be a reality for a number of mines still in operation. A shift in industry for De Beers perhaps? Is buying and selling looking more attractive?
I wonder when the CTP treatment plant will be a target too if not already. Many believe that when the "movers and shakers" started leaving Kimberley, investment in this ol' mining town began to flourish. Investment just seems to be pouring in. I know we have the "groot gat" and all but geez, it certainly took a long time to upgrade and make it more appealing for tourists. After all the bucks, this here ol' mining town definitely didnt go places either. So all is not lost here but for Oranjemund, it appears bleak regardless of Life of Mine, predictions etc.
I do think that Georgswa has a valid point, a gateway to Luderitz and more emphasis placed on the Richtersveld in terms of tourism can only be beneficial to Namibia and then Omund can surely benefit. This should be taken up with the company sooner rather than at the last minute. Its time to put back what they've taken for so many years.
Who knows maybe a hotel or two. A tourist destination is not a bad idea.
There have been moves afoot for the last 3 years to try and get the future of Omund secured after the diamonds are finished, but one gets the impression DeBEers just are'nt that interested...Oh Ya! They like having meeting after meeting, but nothing actually happens... a good place to start would be to transfer ownership of the buildings in town to private people......
i get the impression that some people think oranjemund is becoming empty.
but the fact is that oranjemund is jammed packed full.
not all people work for namdeb (cdm) like the old days.
there is no accommodation to be had anyware.
i see from Alfreds photos the gemmies are using Advanced transport to move out of town.
motorbike
Hehehe ... and there's a heck of a lot of those advance trucks in town...... The company should address all th confusion so we know what's happening to our future's
I believe the workers at 4 plant were told to go home today and to take any leave due to them... the plant was switched off...... Anyone know more?
Has the corner been turned? Hearing chatter on the shop floor that the PTF plant might be reopened again...... anyone know something?