CANADIAN SUCCESS Production in Canada increased five-fold to 1.1-million carats
Diamond major De Beers’ rough diamond production for the third quarter of the year increased by 46% year-on-year to 9.2-million carats, reflecting stable trading conditions as well as the contribution from the ramp-up of the Gahcho Kué joint venture diamond mine, in Canada.
Production in Canada increased fivefold to 1.1-million carats, with Gahcho Kué starting commercial production in March and reaching nameplate capacity in the second quarter. Gahcho Kué is an openpit operation that will mine three kimberlite pipes in sequence.
Meanwhile, De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM), in South Africa, increased production by 41% to 1.5-million carats, largely as a result of higher grades at the Venetia diamond mine, in Limpopo.
Debswana, in Botswana, increased production by 33% to 6.1-million carats, as the Orapa mine’s production increased by 60%. The plant was previously on partial care and maintenance in response to trading conditions.
Output from the Jwaneng mine increased by 23%, owing to planned increases in feed to the plant.
Namdeb, in Namibia, increased production by 12% to 454 000 ct, primarily as a result of higher mining rates from Debmarine Namibia’s Mafuta vessel.
De Beers’ full-year production guidance has been revised from 31-million carats to about 33-million carats.
Meanwhile, consolidated rough diamond sales volumes for the third quarter totalled 6.5-million carats, compared with 5.3-million carats in the third quarter of 2016.
The increase was driven by a normalisation of demand for lower-value goods this year.