Rockwell Diamonds said its diamond output and sales figures continued on an upward trajectory during the three months ended November 30, 2014.
The group recorded a 15 percent increase in output to 10,228 carats during the third quarter of the fiscal year 2015 compared to 8,913 carats registered a year earlier.
Rockwell also registered sales revenue of $15.8 million driven by 127 percent increase in carats sold.
"Our production and sales performance continues to improve with record volumes of both gravel mined and processed and carat sales from the [Middle Orange River operations] (MOR) in the third quarter,” said Rockwell chief executive James Campbell.
“A highlight for the quarter was bedding down of the earthmoving vehicle renewal plan and ongoing optimisation of our in-field screens that helped us post a 60 percent increase in mining volumes and 47 percent increase in gravel processed.”
He said the increase in volumes processed offset the lower grades and lower prices achieved for the rough product.
Meanwhile, Campbell said the company’s new mine, Niewejaarskraal, made a “good progress” in ramping up its production with a commensurate improvement in diamond value.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
