Debswana picks De Beers rough diamonds output

De Beers, the world biggest diamond producer has mined 8, 7 million carats of rough diamonds, up 36 percent in the second quarter of the year, its parent company has disclosed.

The production was lifted by Debswana, as the locally-based miner’ output jumped by 14 percent to close the quarter 5, 9 million carats, Anglo American, the listed company has revealed. For the period under review, Orapa diamond mine, which is located in Boteti Sub-district picked output by 44 percent ‘driven by the ramp up of Plant 1 which was previously on partial care and maintenance’.

At Jwaneng mine, production was done 3 percent. During the period, production at South Africa’s mines improved at a much higher rate when compared to the rest of De Beers stable of mines. However, the total output was still far less than what was produced at Debswana, company owned by Botswana government and De Beers. Meanwhile, De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM) produced 1, 4 million carats of diamonds, up 71 percent.

In Namibia, De Beers production was up by 32 percent to close at 0, 4 million carats, Anglo said in a statement. Output in Canada jumped almost six fold to end the quarter at 1 million carats. This was due to a ramp-up at Gahcho Kue mine, which is located at Kennady Lake. According to the Anglo, the total sales for the period was 5, 4 million carats. De Beers is owned by Botswana and Anglo American.