In October 2007, with feasibility studies complete, an application for the mining licence for AK6 was put before the Government of Botswana, with the intent of commencing mining during 2009. It was at this point that the disadvantage of working with a large multi-national with established procedures and favouring sophisticated mining plans and processes became evident. De Beers were anxious to delay start-up beyond 2009, as they felt that the then market conditions did not support the economic case for AK6.
