Debswana’s (Botswana) production decreased marginally to 5.2 million carats. At Jwaneng, production decreased 8 percent due to expected lower grades, partly offset by Orapa, which increased by 5 percent due to higher grades.
Production at Namdeb Holdings (Namibia) increased by 6 percent to 0.5 million carats due to marginally higher grade at Namdeb. In DBCM (South Africa), production increased by 19 percent to 1.1 million carats largely as a result of higher grades at Venetia.
Production in Canada increased by 290 per cent to 0.6 million carats due to the contribution of Gahcho Kué, which reached commercial production on 2 March 2017.
Total rough diamond sales volumes in Q1 2017 were 14.1 million carats (13.7 million carats on a consolidated basis) from three Sights, compared with 8.1 million carats (7.6 million carats on a consolidated basis) from two Sights in Q1 2016. In addition, this increase reflected stronger demand in Sight 1 2017, particularly for lower value goods in stock at 31 December 2016. The company notes that its full year production guidance remains unchanged at 31 – 33 million carats, subject to trading conditions.
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