De Beers: Q1 Output Jumps Due to Gahcho Kue and Orapa Mines

(IDEX Online) – De Beers reported rough diamond production for Q1 2018 increased 15% to 8.5 million carats, reflecting the ramp-up of production from Gahcho Kué in Canada, and also to increased production from Orapa in Botswana in response to sustained healthy trading conditions.

Total rough diamond sales volumes in Q1 2018 were 8.8 million carats (8.4 million carats on a consolidated basis) from two Sights, compared with 14.1 million carats (13.7 million carats on a consolidated basis) from three Sights in Q1 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, the miner said.

Production increased 12% to 5.8 million carats in Botswana. Output at Orapa rose 26% to 2.8 million carats mainly due to an increase in tonnes treated in response to sustained healthy trading conditions.

Production increased 12% to 528,000 carats in Namibia as a result of accessing consistently higher grades at the land-based operations.

And in Canada, production jumped 69% to 1.1 million carats due to the ramp-up of Gahcho Kué, which reached nameplate capacity in Q2 2017.