Gem Diamonds Limited Opening of Ghaghoo Mine
September 05 2014 - 2:00AM
RNS Non-Regulatory
TIDMGEMD
Gem Diamonds Limited
05 September 2014
5 September 2014
GEM DIAMONDS LIMITED
("Gem Diamonds" or "the Company")
Opening of Ghaghoo Mine
Gem Diamonds Limited (LSE: GEMD) is pleased to announce the
opening of the Ghaghoo diamond mine in Botswana, which will be the
first underground diamond mine in the country. This is a
significant milestone for Gem Diamonds as the Company looks forward
to operating its second major producing diamond mine, in addition
to the Letšeng mine in Lesotho. Gem Diamonds is hosting an opening
ceremony at the mine today. The President of Botswana, Lieutenant
General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, will be attending the event and
officially opening the mine.
The Ghaghoo diamond mine,will be the first underground diamond
minein Botswana. Botswana is the world's leading diamond producer
and home to some of the largest, most profitable diamond mines,
making this an ideal country for Gem Diamonds to operate in.
Through a phased development plan, Ghaghoo is expected to emerge
aspart of a new generation of diamond mines in Botswana, with a
core focus on ensuring that the highest benchmarks of excellence
across health and safety and social and environmental impacts are
achieved. The Company has undergone a series of extensive studies
and assessments relating to the environment, local communities and
broader social impacts of the Ghaghoo mine, which will provide a
critical framework to ensure that the mine operates to the most
stringent of international standards. This is a strategic priority
for the Company in a rapidly changing environment for the global
mining industry, and will contribute to the further to the
modernisation of the diamond mining industry to ensure long term
sustainability.
The mine has a unique foot print, as an underground diamond
mine, significantly reducing environmental impacts. The mine has
been built to very high specifications to ensure that the
environment is protected as far as possible, with comprehensive
rehabilitation plans in place. The Company has undergone a number
of in-depth community consultations as part of a broader community
and social engagement strategy and as a means to accurately
understand potential social impacts. Gem Diamonds is committed to
ensuring the well being of affected communities and bringing
benefits to these communities, where this is possible. The Company
has already collaborated with the NGO, VOX to assist in providing
local communities with access to water. Additionally, the Company
has established a Community Trust, which includes two trustees from
the project affected communities. Funds have already been allocated
to the Trust which has commissioned various community projects
during the Period. Furthermore, the Company is expected to employ
approximately 250 people in Botswana once full Phase 1 production
is achieved in 2015 and will see the development of a skills base
in the local area, providing economic opportunities for
individuals, in the country's largest industry.
The objective of Phase 1 of the development is to confirm the
grade, diamond prices and the recovery processes, including the use
of autogenous milling, which is expected to increase diamond
liberation. Results from Phase 1 will define the further
development plans at Ghaghoo.
Clifford Elphick, CEO of Gem Diamonds commented:
"We are very pleased to be bringing the Ghaghoo mine into
production. This is a significant step forward for Gem Diamonds as
a Company as we add another mine to our portfolio of producing
assets. The potential of this ore body and the economic benefits to
shareholders, employees and the Botswana nation will soon become
evident. We believe that our steadfast approach and commitment to
being an excellent corporate citizen, and working to ensure we
operate in an environmentally and socially responsible manner is
key in determining the long term success of the Ghaghoo mine.
"The mine and our investment to date demonstrates our commitment
to the country and to the people of Botswana. We see considerable
opportunities inplaying an important role in the country's future
and bringingjobs and economic opportunities to the surrounding
communities."
Images of the opening ceremony along with a press pack are
available on our website.
For further information:
Gem Diamonds Limited
Sherryn Tedder, Investor Relations
Tel: +27 (0) 11 560 9600
Mob: +27 (0) 83 943 4505
Bell Pottinger
Lydia Eades/Joanna Boon
Tel: +44 (0) 203 772 2500
www.gemdiamonds.com
About Ghaghoo
The development of the Ghaghoo mine is progressing well and on
schedule with 2 400 carats having been recovered up to 30 June 2014
during the commissioning of the plant. Included in these first
carats produced was a 20 carat and two 10 carat diamonds (during
the exploration phase, the largest diamond recovered was 7 carats).
Optimisation of the treatment plant process is ongoing during the
commissioning phase. The production build-up to 60 000 tonnes per
month is still anticipated to be reached by December 2014, barring
any further major water ingress.
To date, three production tunnels are progressing within
kimberlite on the first production level, Level 1 at 154 metres
below surface, whilst an exploratory tunnel and training stope have
been developed in the kimberlite on Level 0 at 130 metres below
surface. High volumes of water from basalt fissures have recently
been encountered in one area, and besides contributing to difficult
mining conditions, necessitated the procurement of additional
pumping capacity and the drilling of additional dewatering bore
holes.
Drilling of the second ventilation hole is complete and holing
in is imminent. The third and final hole has been drilled to a
depth of 121 metres and was completed in July, well ahead of the
actual requirement to have this ventilation capacity available. The
rescue equipment for deployment in these shafts, in an emergency,
has been delivered to the mine and is in the process of being
commissioned.
The first tender for Ghaghoo's production is scheduled to take
place before year end.
About Gem Diamonds:
Gem Diamonds is a leading global diamond producer of high value
diamonds. The company owns the Letšeng mine in Lesotho as well as
the Ghaghoo mine, currently in development in Botswana. The Letšeng
mine is famous for the production of large, top colour, exceptional
white diamonds, making it the highest dollar per carat kimberlite
diamond mine in the world. Since Gem Diamonds' acquisition of
Letšeng in 2006, the mine has produced four of the twenty largest
white gem quality diamonds ever recorded.
Gem Diamonds has a growth strategy based on the expansion of the
Letšeng mine and the development of the Ghaghoo mine, while
maintaining its strong balance sheet. The Company seeks to maximise
revenue and margin from its rough diamond production by pursuing
cutting, polishing and sales and marketing initiatives further
along the diamond value chain. With favourable supply/demand
dynamics expected to benefit the industry over the medium to long
term, particularly at the high end of the market supplied by Gem
Diamonds, this strategy positions the Company well to generate
attractive returns for shareholders in the coming years.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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