De Beers diamond mines
resuming production today
In an e-mailed response to queries, De Beers spokeswoman Lynette Gould said the company had begun to see some pick-up in demand for certain types of goods, and steadily increasing sales at sights. The company – which sells about 60% of the world’s uncut gems – holds 10 annual sales, known as sights, to selected customers from Belgium, Israel and other countries known for diamond-cutting.
De Beers – which has the Debswana joint venture with the Botswana government – suspended operations in the country in February and said it would borrow US$500 million (R4.5 billion) from shareholders. The Botswana operations produce a fifth of world diamond supply.
“Production will not be re-started at the De Beers Damtshaa and Orapa No. 2 operations, run in partnership with the government of Botswana,” said Gould, “and output in the country will drop about 40 % this year.”
The company’s Botswana venture produced 32.3 million carats of diamonds in 2008.