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Rough diamonds production increase at De Beers

De Beers’ rough diamond production for the first quarter of 2018 increased 15 percent to 8.5 million carats, reflecting the ramp-up of production from Gahcho Kué in Canada, which reached nameplate capacity in Q2 2017, and increased production from Orapa in Botswana in response to the sustained healthy trading conditions.

According to the company, in Botswana Debswana’s production increased 12 percent to 5.8 million carats. Orapa2 production increased 26 percent to 2.8 million carats mainly due to an increase in tonnes treated in response to sustained healthy trading conditions.

In Namibia, Namdeb Holdings’ production increased 12 percent to 528,000 carats as a result of accessing consistently higher grades at the land-based operations.

De Beers Consolidated Mines in South Africa’s production was in line with first quarter of 2017 at 1.1 million carats.

For Canada, production increased 69 percent to 1.1 million carats due to the ramp-up of Gahcho Kué, which reached nameplate capacity in second quarter of 2017.

On sales, the total rough diamond sales volumes in quarter one of 2018 were 8.8 million carats (8.4 million carats on a consolidated basis3) from two sights, compared with 14.1 million carats (13.7 million carats on a consolidated basis3) from three sights in quarter one of 2017.

In addition to the difference in the number of sights over the period, sight 1 2017 also saw an unusually strong demand for lower value goods following the effects of Indian demonetisation in Q4 2016, leading to higher than normal sales volume.

Full year production guidance remains unchanged at 34 to 36 million carats, subject to trading conditions.

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