Orapa Mine Image credit: Debswana
The miner's diamond exports eased to $2.02 billion in 2020 from $3.05 billion the previous year.
Massive quarterly drops of 63% and 66% were recorded in the second and third quarters, respectively.
However, diamond sales recovered in the fourth quarter as rough exports jumped 35% compared to the same period in 2019.
Debswana's output decreased by 28% to 4.3 million carats in the fourth quarter of 2020, due to the planned treatment of lower grade material at Jwaneng, where production decreased by 56%.
This was partly offset by a 9% increase at Orapa due to a planned improvement in grade, despite a slower than anticipated plant restart in December following scheduled maintenance, as well as power supply interruptions affecting plant availability.
Botswana gets about 30% of its revenues from diamond sales.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
