Namdeb off to rocky start

Namdeb Holdings produced 338 000 carats of diamonds in the first quarter of this year, 34% or 173 000 carats less than the same three months of 2020. Compared to the last quarter of 2020, production remained flat, decreasing by 1 000 carats. Annual production dropped primarily as the Mafuta vessel was under planned maintenance and another vessel remained demobilised as part of the response to lower demand implemented in the third quarter of 2020, Anglo American, owner of De Beers, said in its latest production report. De Beers owns 50% of Namdeb Holdings, while the other half belongs to the Namibian government. Photo Nampa/Reuters