Adam Waugh, CEO of Aim-listed BlueRock Diamonds gives London South East an exclusive insight into diamond production targets for 2018. #BRD operates the Kareevlei Diamond Mine in South Africa’s Northern Cape and is already producing diamonds.

The mine consists of 5 pipes, with K2 already being workled and K2 surface waste blasted away last week. BlueRock recently raised £500,000 and this is being used to upgrade the on-site processing facilities and to start working the higher quality diamonds from K1.

Diamond mining involves drilling, blasting and then chunks as big as 0.5 metres wide get crushed. "We have seen a gradual ramp-up in production in 2017" said Adam Waugh, "and we expect that to continue throughout 2018 as our carats per tonne figure increases and the business becomes more profitable on the same cost base."