DIAMOND NEWS ROUNDUP — Namibian Minerals begins commercial mining

Having completed sea trials and testing late last year, Namibian Minerals (NMR-T) has started commercial mining of diamonds at a concession off the coast of Namibia.

The capital cost of the project was US$18 million. Construction of the company’s mining vessel, MV Kovambo, and supporting infrastructure was managed by the company’s project team. Sea trials were carried out in the North Sea before the vessel departed for Namibia in mid-December.

The company reports that exploration began late last year at two of the company’s Angolan concessions, using river dredging and divers. At the Group O concession, divers recovered a total of 488 diamonds weighing 181.97 carats. The average stone size is 0.37 carat, and the largest stone recovered weighs 3.7 carats. The company is now reviewing the results of the exploration program.