Firestone to ramp up production at BK11

Announcing its audited results for the year ended 30 June 2011, Firestone says it will ramp up the mine's operation capacity to a maximum of 1.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) next year, positioning itself to reach the target of one million carats per annum by 2014.

"A secondary crushing circuit based on mobile crushers commenced work in July 2011," says the company that also owns Liqhobong Mine in Lesotho in a statement. "Significant increases in diamond liberation and grade have been achieved with this circuit.