Namdeb Meets 2 Million Carat Production Target Early

Namdeb met its production objective of mining two million carats per year, according to Namibia’s Mines and Energy Permanent Secretary. The De Beers 50-50 joint venture with the Namibian government has land and marine operations in the country.

“It was an objective that we thought was unattainable - that by the end of this year they would definitely produce two million carats. But they have produced two million already, three weeks before the end of the financial year,” said Secretary Josef Iita to Fin24.

Namdeb’s annual diamond production is usually 1.6 to 1.7 million carats. Iita warned that Namdeb's future output would come largely from offshore mining as the country's land-based resources were almost depleted.

The country is the world's seventh largest rough diamond producer by value.