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DE BEERS MARINE PURSUES INCREASED PRODUCTION IN NAMIBIA
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DE BEERS MARINE Namibia, which last year produced a record 1.018 million carats of diamonds from its mining activities in the Atlantic Ocean, is hoping to produce more diamonds this year, company officials said during a media visit to its offshore vessels. |
Diamond mining giant De Beers holds 70% of the issued capital in De Beers Marine Namibia with NAMDEB, the local producer, retaining the remaining 30%. De Beers Marine has increased its carat production since 2003.
In 2003 the company produced 602,000 carats with the figure increasing to 840,000 carats the following year. In 2005, the company produced 920,000 carats, the first time sea based operations surpassed land based operations in Namibia.
"This year, the company hopes to produce 1.050 million carats," said Peter Cook, a captain on the m.v Debmar Pacific - one of the five vessels operated by the company just outside Oranjemund. De Beers Marine's other vessels are the m.v Ya Toivo, m.v Grand Banks, m.v !Gariep and the m.v Debmar Atlantic.
De Beers Marine is also in the process of upgrading its vessels and building new ones according to its specifications, officials said during the visit.
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