In the period, the main contributors to this growth were diamonds, at 21.0 percentage points while gold and copper contributed 0.3 and 0.2 percentage points respectively. Minerals which registered negative contributions to the growth of mining production were copper-nickel-cobalt matte with a decline of 4.3 percentage points, soda ash, salt and silver, each contributing a decline of 0.2 of a percentage point. Diamond production grew by 26.0 percent in the first quarter of 2014 as compared to 2013 first quarter. The increase in production was largely due to plant maintenance, which was done at Orapa during 2013 first quarter. Production as a result, increased following plant maintenance.
Copper-nickel-cobalt matte production shows a decline of 46.8 percent in the first quarter of 2014, when compared to same period in 2013. Gold production increased by 25.8 percent from 2013 first quarter to same period this year. Salt production in the first quarter of 2014 indicates a drop of 29.3 percent as compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The decrease in production is mainly due to plant breakdowns that were experienced at the Botash. Coal production, on the other hand decreased by 11.7 percent in the first quarter of 2014. The decline can be attributed to the low offtake at Morupule Power Plant.
