Mining output drops by 27% in 2020 Q4
Diamond production fell hugely by 28%
BAKANG TIRO
editors@thepatriot.co.bw
Key data released by Statistics Botswana (SB) suggests a record economic contraction in the local mining sector with mining production having declined by 27.1% in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Statistician General Dr Burton Mguni said the index of mining production stood at 64.0 during the fourth quarter of 2020, showing a negative year-on-year growth of 27.1% from 87.8% in Q4 2019.
The quarter-on-quarter analysis also indicates a significant decline of 11.7 % from the index of 72.5 during the third quarter of 2020 to 64.0.
According to Statistics Botswana, the immense contraction in mining sector growth was mainly attributable to the production of diamonds, which contributed negative 23.7 percentage point.