DT Correspondent
Murowa Diamonds, an associate of RioZim, experienced a significant 12 percent decrease in diamond production during the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
Plant breakdowns were cited as the primary cause of the production slump, according to RioZim’s trading update for the third quarter.
Despite this setback, the Zimbabwean government remains optimistic about the diamond sector’s ability to reach the country’s target of producing 7 million carats, representing a 55 percent increase from the previous year’s output of 4.5 million carats.
The trading update provided insights into the challenges faced by Murowa diamonds during the third quarter of 2023.
“RZM Murowa (Private) Limited: The The business unit experienced plant break downs, mainly on the heavy mobile equipment, which negatively affected plant throughput resulting in a slump in diamond production.
“100 000 carats were produced in Q3, 2023; a 12 percent reduction from 130 000 carats produced in Q3, 2022. The Mines key focus remains to stabiise ts support equipment to enabe consistent processing of high volumes as per the new 500TPH plant desgn,” reads part of the communique.
Zimbabwe’s diamond sector consists of three mining companies, namely Anjin Investments, RZM Murowa, and Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), with Alrosa Zimbabwe still in the exploration stage.
In 2022, Zimbabwe, ranked as the world’s seventh-largest diamond producer, earned US$424 million in diamond earnings from the production of 4.5 million carats, representing a 7 percent increase compared to the previous year.
