UPDATE 1-Petra Diamonds says granted Cullinan mining rights

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JOHANNESBURG, June 6 (Reuters) - Petra Diamonds (PDL.L) said on Friday it had been granted the transfer of new order mining rights for Cullinan diamond mine from De Beers.

"Ministerial consent has been granted for the cession and transfer of the Cullinan new order mining right to Cullinan Diamond Mine from De Beers Consolidated Mines," Petra said in a statement.

De Beers, the world's biggest diamond producer which is 45 percent owned by Anglo American (AAL.L), sold its Cullinan mine to a consortium led by international diamond mining group Petra Diamonds for 1 billion rand ($127.5 million) in cash last year.

Petra, which already has four producing mines in South Africa, said it is scheduled to take over operation of the Cullinan mine from De Beers next month.

Petra said it was on track to increase its annual diamond production to more than 400,000 carats in the year to June 2009 from 180,000 carats in the year to June 2007.

(Reporting by Serena Chaudhry; editing by Christopher Johnson)