BDI Mining recovers 3.02 carat blue diamond at Cempaka

BDI Mining Corp has recovered a 3.02 carat rare blue diamond from its Cempaka alluvial diamond mine in South Kalimantan, the company said in a statement on Monday.

“The recovery of such a stone is very much a highlight for the mine and the company. Not only is the stone potentially very valuable, but its recovery also highlights that the security measures we have in place at the mine are efficient and effective. Given the intense color of the stone and therefore its rarity, we have decided to christen the diamond as the ‘Chelsea Blue’,” the company chairman David Lenigas said in the statement.

BDI also said the diamond would be sold by private tender within the coming months.

It added the processing facilities upgrade was scheduled for completion within the next two weeks and the mining of the Cempaka main channel was advanced.

BDI has 80 percent stake at Cempaka project with state miner PT Aneka Tambang holds the remaining balance.

Over 50,000 carats of gem quality diamonds have been recovered at Cempaka since mining operations began in March 2005. (Robert)