Namibia’s 2009 Diamond Production 0.93 Million Ct

Diamond mining ship Kovambo. Namibia is the leading marine diamond mining country

Namibia produced 929,006 carats of diamonds in 2009, less than half its production in 2008 when the country produced 2.2 million carats. The country’s central bank said diamond production will rise 18.8 percent in 2010.

The figures, included in a report by central bank Governor Ipumbu Shiimi and quoted by Bloomberg, underscores the deep cut in diamond production miners made in response to sagging diamond demand in late 2008 and deep into 2009.

Much of Namibia’s production is marine mining, most of which Namdeb, a joint venture between the government and De Beers.