TIDMGEMD
RNS Number : 7946O
Gem Diamonds Limited
10 November 2016
10 November 2016
GEM DIAMONDS LIMITED
Q3 2016 Trading Update
Gem Diamonds Limited (LSE: GEMD) ("Gem Diamonds" or the
"Company" or the "Group") is pleased to provide the following
Trading Update detailing the Group's operational performance for
the Period 1 July 2016 to 30 September 2016 ("Q3 2016" or the
"Period") and sales performance to the date of this report (the
"Sales Period").
Letšeng:
Operational performance on track to achieve full year
guidance
-- Ore treated 1 612 728 tonnes (1 711 336 tonnes in Q2 2016)
despite extreme weather disruption as reported on 10 August
2016.
-- Recovered 24 388 carats during the Period (28 682 carats in Q2 2016).
-- Fleet management system successfully commissioned.
-- 12 diamonds achieving greater than US$ 1.0 million each were
sold in the Sales Period for a total of US$ 24.5 million.
-- Average price achieved for year to date of this report is US$
1 785 per carat, reflecting fewer than expected +100 carat diamonds
recovered.
Ghaghoo:
Steady progress with focus remaining on reducing costs and
increasing production
-- 54 337 tonnes of ore were treated during the Period (up 21% from Q2 2016).
-- Operating costs trending downwards.
-- Encouraging recoveries of larger diamonds as mining moves
into the undiluted portions of kimberlite ore.
-- This demonstrates the fundamental potential of the mine,
however given current market conditions for these types of
diamonds, the on-going development of the mine in the near term, is
under review.
Financial:
-- The Group had US$ 44.1 million cash on hand as at 30
September 2016, of which US$ 39.6 million is attributable to Gem
Diamonds Limited.
-- US$ 28.2 million of available facilities have been drawn down
resulting in a net cash position of US$ 15.9 million. No new draw
down of any facilities took place during the Period. At Period end,
the Group had US$ 53.2 million worth of undrawn and available
facilities.
-- During the Period, Letšeng paid dividends of US$ 25.7
million, which resulted in a net cash flow of US$ 16.2 million to
Gem Diamonds and a cash outflow from the Group as a result of
withholding taxes of US$ 1.8 million and payment of the Government
of Lesotho's dividend portion of US$ 7.7 million.
Gem Diamonds' CEO, Clifford Elphick commented:
"Letšeng remains on track to achieve all of its guided
production targets for 2016. This is despite production
interruptions during July and August due to the worst weather
conditions experienced since the Letšeng mine opened. Prices
achieved for Letšeng's high quality diamonds have remained robust,
with twelve diamonds having been sold for more than $1 million US
dollars each during the Sales Period. However, the continued
paucity of large high value diamonds during the Period has resulted
in an average tender price year to date of US$ 1 785 per carat. At
Ghaghoo ramping up production levels and reducing costs has seen
positive progress being made. There have been encouraging signs of
larger diamonds being recovered as mining has progressed into the
undiluted portions of the kimberlite ore."
1. Diamond Market
Whilst the overall mood of the market remains cautious, the
demand for Letšeng's high quality large white diamonds has
continued as prices achieved for Letšeng's high quality goods
remained firm during the Sales Period.
2. Letšeng
Gem Diamonds holds a 70% shareholding in Letšeng Diamonds (Pty)
Ltd ("Letšeng") in partnership with the Government of the Kingdom
of Lesotho which owns the remaining 30%.
2.1. Production
Q3 2016 Q2 2016 QoQ Q3 2015 YoY
% Change % Change
------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Waste stripped (tonnes) 6 626 385 8 231 594 -20% 6 244 432 6%
------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Ore treated (tonnes) 1 612 728 1 711 336 -6 % 1 758 295 -8%
------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Carats recovered 24 388 28 682 -15% 29 460 -17%
------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Grade recovered (cpht) 1.51 1.68 -10% 1.68 -10%
------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
During the Period, 6.6 million tonnes of waste were mined. This
reduced volume was a result of the extreme weather experienced in
July and August. The mining fleet was not able to mine waste for a
10-day period during the poor weather.
Letšeng treated a total of 1.4 million tonnes of ore during the
Period, 77% of which was sourced from the Main pipe, and 23% from
the Satellite pipe. The balance of the ore was treated through the
Alluvial Ventures contractor plant. The impact of the poor weather
was partially mitigated by the ore being sourced from strategic
stockpiles on surface, as access to the pits were unattainable,
which led to a reduction in the grade recovered. These stockpiles
are planned to be replenished before next winter.
2.2. Rough Diamond Sales
Three tenders were held during the Sales Period with 37 990
carats sold for a total value of US$ 61.5 million, achieving an
average price of US$ 1 619 per carat. It should be noted that
included in these sales figures are the small diamonds from Export
7 that have been included at valuation and will be sold in the
final sale to be held in December 2016. The lower average dollar
per carat achieved during the Sales Period is a consequence of a
continued deficiency of high quality large diamonds rather than a
decrease in demand for these diamonds or a weakening of the market
in terms of price. Overall, prices of the production sold during
the Sales Period remained firm.
3. Ghaghoo
Gem Diamonds' wholly-owned subsidiary, Gem Diamonds Botswana
(Pty) Ltd, is currently developing the Ghaghoo Mine ("Ghaghoo") in
Botswana.
Q3 2016 Q2 2016 QoQ Q3 2015 YoY
% Change % Change
------------------------ -------- -------- ---------- -------- ----------
Ore treated (tonnes) 54 337 45 055 21% 109 751 -50%
------------------------ -------- -------- ---------- -------- ----------
Carats recovered 7 720 9 847 -22% 31 922 -76%
------------------------ -------- -------- ---------- -------- ----------
Grade recovered (cpht) 14.2 21.9 -35% 29.1 -51%
------------------------ -------- -------- ---------- -------- ----------
There were no sales of Ghaghoo goods during the Sales
Period.
The actions required to reduce tonnage have been completed and
at the same time the costs are on a downward trend. Development of
Level 2 is continuing. The extension of the water bearing fissure
has been encountered on Level 2, as expected. The water has been
contained by adopting practices implemented on Level 1 and there
has been no impact on production during the Period. Sand ingress
into the operational areas is monitored and controlled through
strict draw control practices.
Ore treated increased by 21% QoQ to 54 337 tonnes in the Period.
Planned changes to the mill configuration have been finalised and
will be implemented in late November, during a planned three day
shut down. The expected improvements will have a positive impact
upon throughput, liberation and mill retention time.
The grade recovered during the Period was 14.2 cpht. The lower
than forecast grade was impacted by several issues. Firstly, owing
to the lower than expected tonnes treated, the mining mix was not
what was planned, therefore, lower grade material was treated.
Dilution was also a factor - the main source of the basalt dilution
is from internal waste that has previously not been mapped. The
amount of diluted material was significantly higher than
anticipated but recently has seen a notable reduction in basalt
dilution.
4. Health, Safety, Social and Environment (HSSE):
The Group continues to strive toward its goal of zero harm to
its people and environment and to operate within the Group's
sustainable development framework.
There were no Lost Time Injuries (LTI's) during the Period. One
LTI was reported at Ghaghoo during October. This has resulted in a
Group Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) of 0.13 and a Group
All Injury Frequency Rate (AIFR) of 2.11.
The Group continues to focus on the proactive prevention of
injuries and the implementation of its Behaviour Based Care
Campaign.
Gem Diamonds continues to work closely with its project affected
communities to ensure that the social projects implemented continue
to benefit the communities and are sustainable. This included
providing accommodation and food to approximately 250 local
residents who were at risk during the severe weather experienced at
Letšeng in July and August 2016.
No significant community or environmental incidents have
occurred across the Group in 2016.
For further information:
Gem Diamonds Limited
Juliet Cox (née Kirk),
Investor Relations Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 203 043 0280
Celicourt Communications
Joanna Boon / Mark Antelme
Tel: +44 (0) 207 520 9265
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes
of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.
About Gem Diamonds:
Gem Diamonds is a leading global diamond producer of high value
diamonds. The company owns 70% of the Letšeng mine in Lesotho and
100% of the Ghaghoo mine in Botswana. The Letšeng mine is famous
for the production of large, high quality, exceptional white
diamonds, making it the highest dollar per carat kimberlite diamond
mine in the world.
Gem Diamonds has a growth strategy based on the expansion of the
Letšeng mine and bringing the Ghaghoo mine into production, 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.
www.gemdiamonds.com
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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