Windhoek: The Namibian Government is said to have earned R4 billion ($305 million) from De Beers last year in corporate tax, royalties and dividends.

De Beers and the government of Namibia jointly own Namdeb Holdings, which has operations along the south-west coast of the country as well as land-based operations at Oranjemund and satellite mines near Lüderitz and along the Orange River.

The Southern Times reports that Windhoek raked in R2.2 billion in corporate tax, R1.1 billion in royalties and R700 million in dividends from the diamond giant.

Namibia was also expected to get up to R6 billion when factoring in R2 billion from a state-owned company Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia).

Namdia was formed after De Beers agreed last May to let Namibia sell diamonds obtained from Namdeb worth around R2 billion per annum.

Production at Namdeb Holdings decreased by 11 percent to 1.6 million carats from 1.8 million carats, a year earlier, with reduced output at Debmarine Namibia as a result of the Mafuta vessel undergoing extended planned in-port maintenance and lower grades at Namdeb’s land operations.