Petra Diamonds ups output, revenues at Tanzania mine

Williamson Mine

Petra Diamonds said that total production at its Williamson mine, in Tanzania went up by 93 percent to 57,050 carats during the financial year 2012 when compared to the previous year’s 29,510 carats.

Of the total output, 14,195 carats came from contract alluvial operations while the remaining 42,855 carats emanated from its kimberlite operations. 

It said in a statement that a development programme, which involved a substantial rebuild of the existing plant and major pit reshaping work at the mine, had boosted production. 

Petra said the re-crush circuit in the plant would commence commissioning in Q2 FY 2013 and it was anticipated that this, along with other continual improvements on plant efficiency, would lead to an improvement in run of mine (ROM) grade. 

Production guidance for Williamson (excluding alluvials) was about 2.5 million tones per annum (Mtpa) for FY 2013, climbing to 3.6 Mtpa by FY 2016.

Contract mining of alluvial diamonds was planned to contribute about 14,000 carats for FY 2013, with production levels thereafter to be reviewed annually.

Meanwhile, Petra said that the Williamson mine recorded revenues of $11.6 million after selling 49,153 carats during the period under review from $9.5 million a year earlier (31,555 carats were sold in FY2011). 

The diamonds were sold at an average price of $236 per carat down 22 percent from $302 realised a year earlier. 

Source: Rough&Polished, http://www.rough-polished.com, reported by Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau 

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