Maseru - Lets'eng Diamond Mine in northern Lesotho sold diamonds worth $3,3-million in Antwerp, Belgium, this month, the company said on Monday.
Last year the mine sold diamonds for $5,6-million in the same market.
Before re-starting production in April 2003, the Lets'eng Diamond Mine remained abandoned after De Beers ceased operations there in 1982.
"De Beers left the mine in 1982 after diamond markets worldwide experienced a dramatic depression. In 1995 the government of Lesotho announced its intention to re-open the Lets'eng mine. In 1998 we reached an agreement with government to open the mine after going through a tedious process of tendering," said Paki Kolobe, director of Lets'eng Diamonds Pty (Ltd).
"We got the mining lease in 1999 and started building infrastructure in 2000. We started very slowly due to the depressed economic climate in Lesotho because of the political riots of 1998."
Kolobe said the 2002 general elections encouraged investors to put money into the mine.
