Sociedade Mineira Yetwene (SMY), situated in Lucapa municipality, Lunda-Norte province, aims to quadruple its monthly diamond production from three thousand to 13 thousand carats this year by introducing new treatment facilities.
Vánia Ferreira, SMY’s advisor for Mining Development, disclosed this information recently, stating that the installation of four pre-treatment units with capacities ranging from 100 to 250 tons per hour is currently underway. This expansion will elevate the ore treatment capacity from 100 to 450 tons per hour.
Ferreira emphasized plans for initiating a second production front, which is crucial for achieving the projected production targets.
Over the past four years, the mine has yielded more than 23 thousand carats of diamonds, Ferreira added.
Regarding human resources, Ferreira anticipates a workforce growth of around 45 percent to complement the expansion plan, which currently employs 244 workers.
Moreover, Ferreira revealed that the average price of diamonds extracted at Yetwene stands at approximately $150 per carat.
Yetwene, a joint venture established for diamond exploration in the commune of Camissombo, Lucapa municipality, operates within a concession area spanning 508 square kilometers.
