Firestone Diamonds Plc has started mining activities at its 75%-owned Liqhobong diamond mine in Lesotho after completing construction work.

Commissioning of the processing plant is now in the final stages and commercial production is expected to start within this quarter, it said Oct. 6.

It expects to recover the first diamonds from the commissioning phase in October, with diamond sales starting from January 2017, Firestone added.

Maiden ore is being stockpiled for processing once the historical stockpiles have been processed.

The Lesotho government owns the remaining 25% of the project.