Namdeb diamond output in the dip

Namdeb said its diamond output dropped marginally to 1.3 million carats last year from 1.5 million carats in 2010.
Company chief executive Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi said that 2011 was a challenging year for the company as its production was disrupted on a number of occasions.
She said Namdeb experienced a month-long industrial action, had its operations shutdown for a complete safety review following two fatalities.
De Beers Marine Namibia (now trading as Debmarine Namibia) also experienced a main winch failure on the Peace in Africa mining vessel.
“However, excellent marine production rates once the vessel was operational, and very good land-based production rates in Q4, saw overall production for the year nearly equal 2010 output at 1.3 million carats (2010: 1.5 million),” Zamwani-Kamwi said.
Meanwhile, the Namdeb boss said that Debmarine Namibia had secured a six-year charter arrangement for the Peace in Africa mining vessel from De Beers Consolidated Mines, with the option to purchase.
She said the Sendelingsdrif project, intended to replace the production from Daberas Mine, which was coming to the end of its life, received approval from the government of Namibia.
Zamwani said 2012 would be an “exciting” year for Namdeb as it restarts operations at the Elizabeth Bay Mine.
The mine was expected to produce at full capacity in 2012, she said.

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished