Diamond resource in-situ carats from Lucapa Diamond's 40%-owned Lulo concession increased by 2% to 153,870 carats in 2022 from 151,040 carats in 2021 following alluvial exploration activities.
A mining depletion of 35,398 carats was registered last year.
It said this is the fifth consecutive year the resource carats have increased, despite the significant increase in mining and processing capacities over the last seven years.
Lucapa said the steep recovery in the diamond market in 2021 and early 2022 had a positive effect on diamond valuations and sales.
The modelled diamond values increased by 3.5% from $1,930 per carat to $2,000 per carat on average, it said.
About 167,000 carats of diamonds had so far been recovered on the Lulo concession since the resumption of commercial mining in 2015.
These were sold for $348 million at an average price of $2,100 per carat.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
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