The Indices of Mineral Production (IMP) in the third quarter of 2014 stood at 105.7 showing a year on year growth of 8.9 percent, Statistics Botswana has revealed. According to government’s statistics body, the increase in IMP primarily reflected positive contributions from diamond, copper concentrates, soda ash, salt, silver and coal production.

It said that even though Copper-Nickel-Cobalt Matte and Gold contributed negatively by 5.0 and 0.3 percentage points respectively, this could not offset the growth in the mining sector. As usual, the main contributors to the 8.9 percent increase in mining production were diamonds contributing 11.4 percentage points followed by copper concentrates contributing 2.4 percentage points.

“Between Quarter three of 2014 and the same quarter of 2013, production of Diamonds increased by 14.1 percent. This notable increase is attributed to mining of higher grade stones.” However, there was Copper-Nickel-Cobalt Matte production declined by 52.1 percent in the same period.

Copper concentrates production recorded the highest growth, at 46.0 percent during the third quarter of 2014, due to unexpectedly higher ore crushed which resulted in higher copper recoveries.

Gold production fell by 17.5 percent in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the third quarter of 2013. This was attributable to low ore mined which resulted in low gold recoveries from the ore. Comparison of Soda Ash production for the third quarter of 2014 and the same quarter in 2013 shows an increase of 3.9 percent despite the planned plant maintenance and interruptions.

Salt production fell 2.0 percent in the third quarter of 2014 compared to an increase of 103.7 percent registered in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

During the third quarter of 2014, production of Silver increased by 25.4 percent when compared to the same quarter in the previous year. This was the first increase since 2013. This is largely attributable to higher quantities of ore having been crushed, resulting in increased silver recoveries.

Coal production increased by 14.7 percent between the third quarter of 2014 and the corresponding quarter of 2013. This is attributed to the need to produce for local consumption and export to neighboring countries.