(IDEX Online) - Lucapa Diamond Company said that commercial diamond recoveries have commenced at the new treatment plant at the Mothae diamond mine in Lesotho.
Managing Director Stephen Wetherall said the commencement of commercial recoveries through the new 1.1Mtpa Mothae plant represented another key milestone in Lucapa's strategic development plan.
"Lucapa is on track to become one of a few listed diamond companies globally with production from more than one operating mine. The high-quality nature of this production from Lulo and Mothae will also enable the group to further its value-enhancing downstream strategy through partnerships with global diamantaires, where discussions are well advanced."
The new Mothae plant incorporates advanced diamond recovery technology, including two XRT diamond recovery modules designed to recover large and rare Type IIa diamonds ahead of the secondary crushing circuit, thus reducing potential diamond breakage and improving the recovery of unbroken large stones.
The plant will be progressively ramped up to its 1.1Mtpa nameplate capacity following the implementation of a second plant operating shift, the miner said.
Production from the Mothae kimberlite mine is intended to complement that from Lucapa's Lulo mine in Angola which, the firm says, produces the world's highest average US$ per carat alluvial diamond production.
Pictured above: the Mothae mine at night.