Gem of a quarter for Namdeb
Jo-Maré Duddy – Namdeb Holdings produced more than half a million carats in the first three months of 2018, the first time in 16 quarters the mine managed to exceed 500 000 carats.
Production results released by De Beers yesterday showed Namdeb delivered 528 000 carats in the first quarter. The last time this production level was achieved, was in the second quarter of 2014 when Namdeb produced 509 000 carats, De Beers’ archives show.
Production in the first quarter of 2018 is nearly 8.2% or 40 000 carats more than the previous three months. Compared to the first quarter of 2017, production rose by nearly 11.9% or 56 000 carats.
De Beers said the increased production is the result of accessing consistently higher grades at Namdeb’s land-based operations. The mining giant is a 50% shareholder in Namdeb Holdings, while the government of Namibia owns the rest.
De Beers’ overall rough diamond production for the first quarter of 2018 increased 15% to 8.5 million carats. This reflects the ramp-up of production from Gahcho Kué in Canada, which reached nameplate capacity in the second quarter of 2017, and increased production from Orapa in Botswana in response to the sustained healthy trading conditions.
De Beers said its full year production guidance remains unchanged at 34 to 36 million carats, subject to trading conditions.
Production results released by De Beers yesterday showed Namdeb delivered 528 000 carats in the first quarter. The last time this production level was achieved, was in the second quarter of 2014 when Namdeb produced 509 000 carats, De Beers’ archives show.
Production in the first quarter of 2018 is nearly 8.2% or 40 000 carats more than the previous three months. Compared to the first quarter of 2017, production rose by nearly 11.9% or 56 000 carats.
De Beers said the increased production is the result of accessing consistently higher grades at Namdeb’s land-based operations. The mining giant is a 50% shareholder in Namdeb Holdings, while the government of Namibia owns the rest.
De Beers’ overall rough diamond production for the first quarter of 2018 increased 15% to 8.5 million carats. This reflects the ramp-up of production from Gahcho Kué in Canada, which reached nameplate capacity in the second quarter of 2017, and increased production from Orapa in Botswana in response to the sustained healthy trading conditions.
De Beers said its full year production guidance remains unchanged at 34 to 36 million carats, subject to trading conditions.
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