JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Aim-listed Stellar Diamonds was acquiring additional mining equipment to further boost the production and processing capacity at its Mandala and Bomboko diamond mines, in Guinea, the company reported on Monday.

Among other equipment, it would install a 16-foot pan plant and a Flow Sort X-Ray machine at the Bomboko mine by the second quarter of this year.

The implementation of additional equipment would enable the diamond miner to reach its near-term forecasts of producing 2 000 ct/m at the Bomboko mine and 12 500 ct/m at the Mandala mine.

Stellar CEO Karl Smithson noted in a statement to shareholders that, since the reverse takeover of West African Diamonds (WAD), in February, the miner has moved quickly to restructure its operations and fast-track production.

“We are in the process of boosting the capital at Mandala and Bomboko, which will positively impact on our revenue generating capabilities in the near term,” he commented.

Smithson added that the company was confident that the strong recovery in the rough diamond market would continue.

Meanwhile, output at the Mandala mine had amounted to 16 400 ct in January and February, while the mine has produced a total of 64 800 ct since mining started in mid-2009.

In February, Stellar had recovered its largest-ever diamond at the Mandala mine. The 37ct fancy yellow stone has, since, been exported to Antwerp for valuation and sale.

The total sales at the mine, to date, amounted to about $1,7-million.

Further, the diamond miner noted that it had recovered 2 562 ct at the Bomboko mine since trial mining started at the end of last year.

Production at the mine had significantly improved in grade since improved mining and grade control measures were implemented, stated Stellar.

The enlarged Stellar Diamonds, which included the merged WAD, relisted on the Aim in February.

The two diamond companies had announced in October that Stellar, which is 58,5% owned by Aim- and TSX Venture Exchange-listed African Aura Mining, had signed a heads of agreement to undertake a combination of business interests that would constitute a reverse takeover of WAD on the London bourse.