BlueRock Diamonds plc, in an Operations Update released earlier this week, reported a 65% increase in average daily production during the first 21 days after the lockdown restrictions were lifted at its Kareevlei Diamond Mine in the Kimberley region of South Africa.

During this period 41,500 tonnes of ore were processed at an average of 2,000 t per day, above the previous record of Q4 2019, when 110,000 tonnes were produced, the company said.

This was despite the continued priority given to health and safety of employees, BlueRock stated while adding that there were no cases of COVID-19 reported at Kareevlei.

The company attributed this increase to “the modifications made to the primary crushing circuit and the introduction of the third pan together with the processing of softer near surface material”. The increased production was also achieved at minimal cost whilst also reducing operating costs, the company said.

BlueRock Executive Chairman, Mike Houston, said, "The amalgamation of KV1 and KV2, which will provide considerable flexibility to our mining operation, is progressing well and is expected to be fully operational in Q3 2020.  Whilst the amalgamation is ongoing, we are necessarily processing a higher percentage of lower grade near surface material and as a consequence the average grade for the diamonds currently in stock is 3.14 cpht.  We expect to be mining in higher grade areas towards the end of June and we are confident that grades will return to 2019 levels of in excess of 4 cpht.”