Zimbabwes 1H Diamond Production Exceeds 2M Cts

Zimbabwe’s diamond production reached 2.329 million carats in the first half of 2011 with the bulk coming from the controversial Marange fields, Finance Minister Tendai Biti reported to Parliament on Tuesday.

The Treasury expects production to ramp up in the second half to reach 8.2 million carats for the full year, which would be slightly lower than the 8.435 million carats mined in 2010.