UK-based Petra Diamonds has reported total diamond production of 1,247,522 carats for the first half of the 2013 financial year, ended 31 December 2012.
The figures represent a 31% increase in production when compared to 953,553 carats in the corresponding period of the earlier fiscal.
The production figures also included output from the recently acquired Finsch Mines.
Commencement of production at the company’s Williamson operation in Tanzania and the continuing ramp-up towards full production at the Kimberley Underground operation in South Africa contributed handsomely to the increase in production.
Petra CEO Johan Dippenaar said that look ahead the company was on track to achieve a production target of 5 million carats per annum by 2019.
"Petra enters the second half of FY 2013 in a strong position to continue its robust long-term growth trajectory, with fully funded expansion programmes progressing as planned, well controlled costs and significantly higher sales expected in H2 due to seasonal tender timing," noted Dippenaar.
Profits from mining operations for the company increased 26% to $41.2m for the reporting period when compared to $32.8m in the corresponding period of 2012 fiscal.