Element Six (E6), part of the De Beers Group, and Master Drilling have announced a new global partnership for advanced tunnel development technology.
E6 is known for the design and development of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and ultra-hard materials. On the other hand, Master Drilling provides drilling and mechanised rock excavation solutions.
The partnership combines Element Six’s patented polycrystalline diamond cutting technology with Master Drilling’s fully mechanised services for the mining, infrastructure, and energy sectors.
Together, both firms will introduce a synthetic diamond-enabled tunnelling solution.
This technology reduces waste rock generation by over 17% compared to traditional tunnelling methods, Element Six said.
The solution has been successfully tested in the UK and South Africa, showing better performance in both underground and surface conditions. This collaboration targets the mining, infrastructure, and energy sectors.
Master Drilling executive director Koos Jordaan said: “By combining our technologies and expertise, we can offer quality tunnel development with competitive productivity, lower costs and reduced waste, enabling safer, faster, and more economical tunnel construction.
“This innovation holds great potential for expanding underground operations in industries such as mining, energy, transportation, and infrastructure.”
The PCD and ultra-hard materials developer said underground tunnels support in accessing critical resources, creating efficient transportation routes, and housing essential utilities.
In mining, they provide access to minerals and support transportation and ventilation networks. In transportation, tunnels shorten routes through challenging terrain or urban areas. In construction, they house utilities underground, and in energy, they support hydroelectric plants and pipelines.
However, tunnel construction faces technical and environmental challenges, such as geological unpredictability, water ingress, high costs, waste generation, and safety risks.
The new partnership between Element Six and Master Drilling offers a diamond-enabled solution to address these issues. This technology speeds up tunnelling development, reduces costs, and minimises the environmental impact of tunnel construction.
Element Six CEO Siobhán Duffy said: “This strategic partnership with Master Drilling is another example of the role Element Six plays in De Beers Group’s Origins strategy.
“Synthetic diamond innovation holds immense potential to shape the future of industrial applications.
“By extracting a lower amount of rock during tunnel development, the solution we developed in partnership with Master Drilling will significantly reduce waste and environmental impact, ensuring a better tomorrow for generations to come.”
