YELLOWKNIFE, Northwest
Territories, November 20, 2014
/PRNewswire/ --
Dominion Diamond Corporation (TSX: DDC, NYSE: DDC) (the
"Company" or "Dominion") reports that the Ekati Diamond Mine and
the Diavik Diamond Mine performed exceptionally well in the third
fiscal quarter of 2015 (August through October). Rough diamond
production, sales and pricing have all exceeded plan. Unless
otherwise specified, all financial information is presented in U.S.
dollars.
Ekati Diamond Mine
Production (100% basis)
Consistent with the two previous quarters, diamond production at
the Ekati Diamond Mine continued to exceed plan, driven by both
higher than expected grades and operational improvements to the
processing plant.
For the three
For the three months ended Oct 31, 2014 months ended Oct 31, 2013
Ore
Processed
(000s Carats Grade Ore Processed Carats Grade
Pipe tonnes) (000s) (carats/tonne) (000s tonnes) (000s) (carats/tonne)
Fox(1) 291 88 0.30 773 215 0.28
Koala(2) 282 353 1.25 160 146 0.91
Koala North 68 57 0.83 61 43 0.70
Misery
Satellites(3) 211 285 1.35 138 205 1.48
Coarse Ore
Rejects("COR")(4) 290 192 0.66 -- -- --
Total(5) 1,142 975 0.85 1,132 609 0.54
For the period from April 10, 2013,
For the nine months ended Oct 31, 2014 (date of acquisition) to Oct 31,2013
Ore
Processed
(000s Carats Grade Ore Processed Carats Grade
Pipe tonnes) (000s) (carats/tonne) (000s tonnes) (000s) (carats/tonne)
Fox(1) 1,489 503 0.34 1,755 543 0.31
Koala(2) 666 831 1.25 293 249 0.85
Koala North 199 174 0.87 176 131 0.74
Misery
Satellites(3) 452 582 1.29 178 243 1.37
COR(4) 358 247 0.69 42 7 0.17
Total(5) 3,164 2,337 0.74 2,444 1,173 0.48
(1) At the beginning of fiscal 2015, the full year
mine plan for the Fox pipe envisaged the processing of 1.7 million
tonnes of mineral reserve producing 0.36 million carats at an
average grade of 0.21 carats per tonne for fiscal 2015.
(2) At the beginning of fiscal 2015, the full year
mine plan for the Koala pipe envisaged the processing of 0.87
million tonnes of mineral reserve producing 0.51 million carats at
an average grade of 0.59 carats per tonne for fiscal 2015.
(3) The Misery Satellites include the Misery
South and Southwest satellite pipes, which are inferred resources,
and Misery Northeast material. Approximately 37,000 tonnes of
Northeast material was processed in the third fiscal quarter, and
approximately 114,000 tonnes of this material was processed
year-to-date for fiscal 2015 at an average grade of 0.83 carats per
tonne. The Northeast material is not included in the reserves or
resources and is therefore incremental production.
(4) This material is not included in the
reserves or resources and is therefore incremental production.
(5) Figures may not add up due to rounding.
Ekati Mining
Update
Waste stripping at the Misery pipe progressed according to plan
as additional resources were allocated. Concurrently, stripping and
mining of COR was initiated ahead of the initial plan to provide
additional flexibility for blending at the process plant. At the
Pigeon pipe, this quarter saw the completion of the ring road, the
establishment of the waste stockpile area and the beginning of
overburden and waste stripping.
Underground production at both Koala and Koala North was
slightly ahead of plan for the quarter and development activities
at Koala North were completed in August according to plan.
Ekati Processing
Update
The Company estimates that process plant improvements
implemented over the last 13 months have increased the recovered
grade by approximately 15% during the nine month period ending
October 31, 2014. The resulting
additional diamonds are not currently included in the reserves and
the mine plan. During the quarter, physical modifications to the
plant were substantially completed with commissioning expected to
take place before the fiscal year-end. Once the process
improvements have been completed, the Company intends to
incorporate these higher recovery rates into an updated reserve
statement.
Diavik Diamond
Mine Production (40% basis)
The Diavik Diamond Mine continued to deliver a good performance
for the third consecutive quarter of fiscal 2015.
For the three months ended Oct 31, 2014 For the three months ended Oct 31, 2013
Ore
Processed
(000s Carats Grade Ore Processed Carats Grade
Pipe tonnes) (000s) (carats/tonne) (000s tonnes) (000s) (carats/tonne)
A-154 South 47 174 3.72 63 266 4.24
A-154 North 86 174 2.03 70 152 2.19
A-418 74 235 3.17 77 274 3.52
COR -- 6 -- 1 34 --
Total(b) 207 589 2.82(a) 211 727 3.29 (a)
For the nine months ended Oct 31, 2014 For the nine months ended Oct 31, 2013
Ore
Processed
(000s Carats Grade Ore Processed Carats Grade
Pipe tonnes) (000s) (carats/tonne) (000s tonnes) (000s) (carats/tonne)
A-154 South 159 592 3.72 175 740 4.23
A-154 North 265 566 2.14 216 450 2.08
A-418 265 988 3.72 233 747 3.20
COR 2 48 -- 4 108 --
Total(b) 691 2,194 3.11(a) 628 2,045 3.10(a)
(a)Grade has been adjusted to exclude COR. COR is not
included in the reserves and is therefore incremental
production.
(b)Figures may not add up due to rounding.
Diavik Mining
Update
Ore mined at the Diavik Diamond Mine was 5% ahead of plan for
the three months ended October 31,
2014, and 12% ahead of plan for the fiscal year to date.
This performance results from higher production from all three
kimberlite pipes throughout the year due to favorable ground
conditions and improved availability of equipment.
Diavik Processing
Update
Ore processing was 5% ahead of plan for the three months ended
October 31, 2014 and 17% ahead of
plan for the fiscal year to date. This was predominately due to
greater ore availability as a result of higher mining rates and
improved equipment availability, equipment efficiencies and
utilization of the processing plant. Carat production was 19% lower
compared to the same fiscal quarter of the prior year, primarily
due to the processing of a lower proportion of the higher grade
A-154 South ore.
Ekati and Diavik
Rough Diamond Sales
The Company recorded total third quarter sales of $222.3 million ($148.1
million in Q3 fiscal 2014).
Q3 FY 2015 Summary Three months ended Nine months ended
Sales in millions of US dollars Oct 31, 2014 Oct 31, 2014
Ekati Rough (100% basis) 141.9 405.1
Diavik Rough (40% basis) 80.4 270.1
Total Sales 222.3 675.2
Carats Sold (000s)
Ekati Rough (100% basis) 458 1,269
Diavik Rough (40% basis) 696 2,236
Total Carats Sold (a) 1,154 3,505
(a) Figures may not add up due to rounding.
Excluded from the Ekati sales recorded in the third quarter were
carats produced and sold from the processing of material from the
Misery Satellite pipes. During the third quarter, the Company sold
an estimated 0.17 million carats of production from the Misery
Satellite pipes for estimated proceeds of $13.6 million for an average price per carat of
$79, which includes the recovery of
small diamonds.
For the nine months ended October 31,
2014, the Company sold an estimated 0.40 million carats of
production from the Misery Satellite pipes for estimated proceeds
of $31.0 million for an average price
per carat of $78, which includes the
incremental diamond recovery from processing improvements.
The Misery Satellite pipes commenced commercial production (for
accounting purposes) on September 1,
2014.
Inventories
Two rough diamond sales (in August and September) were held
during the quarter, ahead of the important Diwali holiday in
India, which has resulted in an
increase in the diamonds held in inventory at the end of the
period. The Company plans to hold three rough diamond sales in the
fourth fiscal quarter of 2015.
At October 31, 2014, the Company
had rough diamond inventory with an estimated market value of
approximately $350 million. The
inventory amount is comprised of approximately $185 million of rough diamonds available for sale
at market value, which includes approximately $60 million of rough diamonds held back from sale
in Q3 and an additional $15 million
of rough diamonds which are primarily samples used in the sorting
process. The balance of approximately $165
million of rough diamonds represents work in progress.
Pricing
Based on the average prices per carat achieved by the Company in
the third fiscal quarter, the Company has modeled the approximate
rough diamond price per carat for each of the Diavik and Ekati
kimberlite process plant feed types below.
Diamond Prices
September 2014 Average Price per Carat (in US dollars)
Diavik Ore Type Ekati Ore Type[1]
A-154 South $145 Koala $390
A-154 North $190 Koala North $435
A-418 $105 Fox $310
Coarse Ore Rejects $50 Misery Satellite Pipes $90
Coarse Ore Rejects $65 - 120
Recovered Small Diamonds $70 - 100
1 The Ekati prices do not reflect the increased recovery
of small diamonds from the improvements in processing so as to be
consistent with the Company's current reserve estimates. The rough
diamond price of the additional recovered small diamonds at Ekati
is estimated at between $70 and $100
per carat.
Cautionary
Statement Regarding Preliminary Results
The Company cautions that the Company's third quarter sales
results disclosed in this news release are preliminary and reflect
expected third quarter sales results as of the date of this news
release. Actual reported results are subject to final review and
may vary from what is currently expected because of a number of
factors, including, without limitation, additional or revised
information and changes in accounting standards or policies or in
how those standards are applied. In addition, the preliminary
results contained in this news release do not include all of the
measures of financial performance that would be disclosed in the
Company's interim financial statements. The Company will provide
additional financial information and related discussion and
analysis about its third quarter financial results when it reports
those actual results.
Forward-Looking
Information
Certain information included herein, including information
about mining activities and estimated production from the Ekati
Diamond Mine and the Diavik Diamond Mine, constitutes
forward-looking information or statements within the meaning of
applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on
certain factors and assumptions including, among other things, the
current mine plan for the Ekati Diamond Mine and the Diavik Diamond
Mine; mining, production, construction and exploration activities
at the Company's mining properties; currency exchange rates; and
world and US economic conditions. Forward-looking information is
subject to certain factors, including risks and uncertainties,
which could cause actual results to differ materially from what the
Company currently expects. These factors include, among other
things, the uncertain nature of mining activities, including risks
associated with underground construction and mining operations,
risks associated with joint venture operations, risks associated
with the remote location of and harsh climate at the Company's
mining properties, risks resulting from the Eurozone financial
crisis, risks associated with regulatory requirements, the risk of
fluctuations in diamond prices and changes in US and world economic
conditions, the risk of fluctuations in the Canadian/US dollar
exchange rate and cash flow and liquidity risks. Actual results may
vary from the forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned
not to place undue importance on forward-looking information, which
speaks only as of the date of this disclosure, and should not rely
upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may
elect to, it is under no obligation and does not undertake to,
update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a
result of new information, further events or otherwise at any
particular time, except as required by law. Additional information
concerning factors that may cause actual results to materially
differ from those in such forward-looking statements is contained
in the Company's filings with Canadian and United States securities regulatory
authorities and can be found
at http://www.sedar.com and http://www.sec.gov,
respectively.
Qualified
person
The scientific and technical information contained in this
press release has been prepared under the supervision of Mats
Heimersson, P. ENG, an employee of the Company and a Qualified
Person within the meaning of National Instrument
43-101.
About Dominion
Diamond Corporation
Dominion Diamond Corporation is a Canadian diamond mining
company with ownership interests in two major producing diamond
mines. Both mines are located in the low political risk environment
of the Northwest Territories in
Canada.
The Company operates the Ekati Diamond Mine through its 88.9%
ownership as well as a 65.3% ownership in the surrounding areas
containing additional resources, and also owns 40% of the Diavik
Diamond Mine. It supplies rough diamonds to the global market
through its sorting and selling operations in Canada, Belgium and India and is the world's third largest
producer of rough diamonds by value.
For further information:
please
visit http://www.ddcorp.ca
Mr. Richard Chetwode, Vice
President, Corporate Development - +44(0)7720-970-762 or
rchetwode@ddcorp.ca
Ms. Kelley Stamm, Manager,
Investor Relations - +1-416-205-4380 or kstamm@ddcorp.ca