Diamond output down

The country’s diamond production decreased by 4.3 percent ( 251 000 carats) during the second quarter of 2022 from 5, 827 million carats in 2021 to 5, 576 million carats. Similarly, quarter- onquarter analysis by Statistics Botswana shows that production decreased by 11.5 percent ( 723 thousand carats) during the second quarter of 2022 compared with 6, 299 thousand carats recorded during the first quarter of 2022. The decline was occasioned by the processing of lower grade ore at the key mines.

Producers of rough diamonds in Botswana are Debswana and Karowe, which is owned by Lucara Diamond Corporation.