Skip to primary navigationSkip to main contentSkip to footer
  • SearchToggle Search Menu
Rasmussen Diamonds logo
  • AccountToggle My Account Menu
    Forgot Password?

    Don't have an account? Sign up now

  • WishlistToggle My Wishlist

    You have no items in your wish list.

    Browse
  • My BagToggle Shopping Cart Menu

    You have no items in your cart.

    Browse
  • Engagement Rings
  • Wedding Bands
  • Jewelry
    Rings
    Rings
    Bracelets
    Bracelets
    Necklaces & Pendants
    Necklaces & Pendants
    Earrings
    Earrings
    Watches
    Watches

    Explore All Jewelry
  • Education
  • Our Store
    Staff
    Staff
    History
    History
    Services
    Services
    Our Blog
    Our Blog

    Explore All Our Store
  • Contact
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Giant Kelp to Play a Key Role in Diamond Miner's Carbon-Neutral Initiative

Giant Kelp to Play a Key Role in Diamond Miner's Carbon-Neutral Initiative

Published: Apr 26, 2022
Giant Kelp to Play a Key Role in Diamond Miner's Carbon-Neutral Initiative
Author: 
Howard Cohen

Climbing to a height of 175 feet or more, giant kelp will be playing a key role in De Beers' ambitious efforts to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations by 2030.

The world's largest diamond miner by value announced that it is investing $2 million in Kelp Blue, an innovative start-up that is pioneering a nature-based solution for sequestering carbon dioxide.

Kelp Blue will be managing large-scale giant kelp forests in Namibian waters that have the potential to safely and permanently lock away vast amounts of CO2 in the ocean.

Research has shown that kelp forests have carbon sequestration properties exceeding those of terrestrial forests and that they help sustain healthy marine ecosystems, providing food and shelter for countless species.

The kelp cultivation will help offset the carbon footprint of the company's seven diamond-recovery vessels that operate along Namibia's coast. The newest one — the $420 million, 580-foot-long, state-of-the-art Benguela Gem — is capable of extracting 500,000 carats annually.

While De Beers Group’s primary focus in achieving its carbon-neutral goal will be on increasing efficiency and replacing fossil fuel and fossil-based energy from its operations with renewable alternatives, carbon credits resulting from the investment in Kelp Blue will support the company in removing any remaining emissions, alongside other nature-based initiatives.

The offshore mining project, which is known to yield some the world's highest-quality diamonds, is a 50/50 joint venture between De Beers Group and the Government of the Republic of Namibia.

In 2021, Kelp Blue was awarded a license to cultivate Giant Kelp off the coast of Namibia and is now in the pilot phase.

The business will contribute infrastructure development in and around the Namibian town of Lüderitz, benefitting the local community by creating employment and up-skilling opportunities in kelp cultivation and processing.

During the pilot phase, the business will generate a range of direct and indirect jobs in biotechnology, engineering, processing, support services and logistics in Namibia.

Daniel Hooft, Founder and CEO of Kelp Blue, commented: "De Beers’ early investment in our offshore pilot – a world first in terms of scale and ambition – specifically helps us accelerate the quantification and verification of the carbon sequestration pathways, which is essential for the whole seaweed industry in terms of scientifically establishing the potential of this novel nature-based solution.”

Credit: Photo courtesy of Kelp Blue.

Categories
Latest Articles
Read Article: Jewelry Through the Ages
Jewelry Through the Ages
Read Article
Read Article: A Guy's Guide to Last Minute Gift Buying
A Guy's Guide to Last Minute Gift Buying
Read Article
Read Article: Winter Style Watch
Winter Style Watch
Read Article
Read Article: Why Shop Small?
Why Shop Small?
Read Article
Read Article: Capturing Brilliance
Capturing Brilliance
Read Article
See more
  • Previous Article
  • Next Article
Rasmussen Diamonds
Rasmussen Diamonds
6220 Washington Ave
Mount Pleasant, WI 53406
(262) 884-9474
1(866) 586-9474
Store Information
Store Hours
Mon - Fri:10:00am - 7:00pm
Saturday:10:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday:Closed
Policies
  • Privacy Policy
  • Return Policy
  • Best of Racine County 2023
  • The Knot

© 2025 Rasmussen Diamonds. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.

Learn how we use cookies in our Privacy Policy or manage cookie preferences.