De Beers Q1 Diamond Output Up 3% to 6.4 Million Carats

The increase largely reflects improved grades, offset by lower production due to planned plant maintenance at Orapa in Botswana, Anglo American said in a statement.

However, production plunged 21 percent compared to the previous quarter due to disruption at the Venetia mine in South Africa caused by flooding of the pit after excessive rainfall in the area. The impact of the disruption was partially offset by the processing of ore stockpiles, with the shortfall expected to be recovered in the second half of this year.

Meanwhile, the Jwaneng mine in Botswana is continuing to recover from the impact of a slope slide in June 2012 that cost the life of a mineworker and from heavy rainfall at the end of 2012.