Maihapa Ndjavera
During the month of September 2020, the volume of Namibian diamonds produced stood at 36 601 carats. This figure is the lowest monthly production by far between January 2015 to September 2020.
A recent sectoral report released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) stated that the diamond production index for September 2020 slowed down to 24.8 basis points, lower by 58.8% and 74.3% when compared to August 2020 and September 2019, respectively.
The low production was mostly due to mining vessels undergoing maintenance. In August 2020, the production stood at 88 847 carats while in September 2019 the production was recorded at 142 207 carats.
Furthermore, the Zinc Production Index registered 83.7 basis points in September 2020, down by 3.1% when compared to the preceding month and up by 1.8% when compared to September 2019.
“During the period under review, 6 956 tons of zinc concentrate was produced compared to 7 182 tons and 6 831 tons produced in August 2020 and September 2019, respectively,” reads the report.
Meanwhile, the Uranium Production Index increased to 211.4 basis points during the period under review. This represents increases of 30.8% and 111.7% when compared to August 2020 and September 2019, respectively. During the month of September 2020, the production of uranium increased to 671 tons compared to 513 tons and 317 tons produced in August 2020 and September 2019, respectively.
Furthermore, the Gold Bullion Production Index for September 2020 stood at 91.9 basis points, representing declines of 7.6% and 17.4% when compared to the preceding month and September 2019, respectively. For the period under review, the production of gold bullion stood at 476kg compared to 515kg and 576kg produced in August 2020 and September 2019, respectively.
As an analysis for the mining sector, the Composite Index recorded 60.3 basis points in September 2020 resulting in declines of 24% and 38.4% when compared to the preceding month and September 2019.
The NSA also noted that a continued trend for the declines observed in both arrivals and departures was mainly attributed to travel restrictions across the world and the gradual re-opening of main points of entry into Namibia (air, land, and sea) in response to the Covid-19 pandemic since the lockdown lapsed.
According to the report, the index for regional and international arrivals slowed down from the situation observed in the previous month, recording 2.2 basis points in September 2020, down by 28.5% and 98.4% registered from the previous month and September 2019, respectively.
“The index for regional and international departures for September 2020 stood at 2.6 basis points down by 24.6% and 97.9% registered when compared to the previous month and September 2019, respectively,” stated the monthly sectoral report.
– mndjavera@nepc.com.na