Botswana Diamonds announced that it has successfully recovered the first lot of diamonds since the recent commencement of plant commissioning activities on the Marsfontein Mining Permit.

The diamnonds were recovered from the diamond bearing gravels and residual unprocessed stockpiles surrounding the Marsfontein Mine, which are being mined and processed by Eurafrican Diamond Corporation, under a recent agreement signed with the company’s associate Vutomi.

Botswana Diamonds also announced that plant commissioning is well advanced following the installation of an in-field screen, two rotary pans, grease and x-ray recovery, and that optimisation of the plant flow sheet is currently taking place and will be followed by ramping-up to full production of 400-tons of pan feed per day.

John Teeling, Chairman, said: "I am delighted with the rapid progress the team has made on-site and it is noteworthy that the first diamonds were recovered within two weeks of the Mining Permit being granted.  I look forward to updating shareholders as the project develops."