26 carats.
This is in comparison to 251 152 carats recorded in 2005. A 10% drop in the fourth quarter of 2006 that saw output plummeting from 56 660 carats captured in the third quarter to 50 368 carats spurred the decline in annual production.
Analysts, however, contend that Zimbabwe’s diamond industry has the potential to flourish, as the diamond sector is widely regarded as the country’s sleeping giant.
The second quarter of 2006 produced a markedly high 84 526 carats compared to a low 48 472 carats in the first quarter.
Murowa, which is Zimbabwe’s leading producer of the gems, is expected to increase production in the next few years in line with international expectations.
This comes after diamond experts at last year’s World Diamond Conference acknowledged that countries had to increase their output by 100% to meet the growing consumption levels of the mineral.
15.2.2007
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Diamond industry a ‘sleeping giant’-(15-02-07)
HARARE - Murowa Diamond Mine, which is partly owned by diversified mining concern RioZim, recorded a marginal decline in diamond output last year. In its latest quarterly production report made available to The Zimbabwean, RioZim noted that the cumulative diamond output for 2006 stood at 240 0