TIDMGEMD
RNS Number : 4013Y
Gem Diamonds Limited
17 May 2016
17 May 2016
GEM DIAMONDS LIMITED
Trading update for Q1 2016
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 January 2016 to 31 March 2016 ("Q1 2016") or (the
"Period") and sales performance to the date of this report.
Letšeng:
Strong start to the year with production in line with plan.
Prices steady for higher quality goods.
-- Recovered 28 698 carats during the Period (reflecting a 28%
increase on the first quarter of 2015).
-- Ore treated was 1 624 964 tonnes (up 14% on Q1 2015).
-- Recovered grade was 1.77cpht (up 12% on Q1 2015).
-- Average price of US$ 1 938(1) per carat achieved for first
three tenders in 2016 (US$ 2 157(1) for the first three tenders of
2015).
-- Zero Lost Time Injuries (LTIs) for the Period, resulting in
522 consecutive LTI free days to the end of the Period.
[1] (Refer to section 2.2 "Rough Diamond Sales and Diamonds
Extracted for Manufacturing" for further details.)
Ghaghoo:
Production slowdown and cost reduction plan implemented.
-- Downsizing process advanced.
-- Buffer zone successfully created to contain sand ingress.
-- Development of production block 2 on Level 1 is progressing well.
-- 47 diamonds greater than 4.8 carats each were recovered
during the Period, including 3 diamonds larger than 10.8 carats,
with the largest being a 12.99 carat diamond.
-- Recovered 11 029 carats during the Period
-- Achieved US$ 160 per carat for the parcel sold in the Period.
Financial:
Strong Balance Sheet maintained. Ordinary and special dividend
subject to shareholder approval at the Company's AGM in June.
-- The Group had US$ 68.8 million cash on hand at the end of the
Period (excluding the receipts from the third tender), of which US$
60.6 million was attributable to Gem Diamonds.
-- During the Period, the Board recommended a dividend of 5 US
cents per ordinary share (US$ 6.9 million) to shareholders
following the announcement of the 2015 Full Year results on 15
March 2016. The payment is to be made on 14 June 2016 to holders of
ordinary shares on the register at close of business on 13 May
2016.
-- The Board also recommended a once off special dividend of 3.5
US cents per ordinary share (US$ 4.8 million) to shareholders.
-- During the Period, Letšeng paid dividends of US$ 20.8
million, which resulted in a net cash flow of US$ 13.1 million to
Gem Diamonds and a cash outflow from the Group as a result of
withholding taxes of US$ 1.5 million and payment of the Government
of Lesotho's dividend portion of US$ 6.2 million.
Gem Diamonds' CEO, Clifford Elphick commented:
"The prices achieved for Letšeng's top quality and large
diamonds have remained steady and have contributed to an average
price of US$ 1 938 per carat for the first three Letšeng
tenders.
At Ghaghoo the downsizing of the operation is advanced and the
buffer zone around the sand ingress has been successfully created.
Development of the second production block on Level 1 has
progressed well and will be the main source of ore for the
remainder of the year. A parcel of 14 114 carats of Ghaghoo
diamonds was sold during the Period for an average of US$ 160 per
carat, which is some 7 percent above the previous price achieved in
December 2015"
1. Diamond Market Overview
Positive actions taken by the major diamond producers (i.e.
reduced supply, reduction of prices of rough diamonds and concerted
consumer marketing efforts) have led to an overall steady sentiment
in the diamond market in the first quarter of 2016. Although there
have been signs of improvement in the first quarter of 2016, the
diamond market as a whole remained cautious during the Period. The
continued slowdown in Chinese retail demand, a strong US dollar and
reports of continued high levels of polished inventory
(particularly in the manufacturing sector) have contributed to a
cautious approach being adopted in the purchasing of rough and
polished diamonds.
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
Q1 2016 Q4 2015 QoQ Q1 2015 YoY
% Change % Change
------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Waste stripped (tonnes) 7 056 303 6 401 631 10% 5 299 922 33%
------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Ore treated (tonnes) 1 624 964 1 810 935 -10% 1 427 656 14%
------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Carats recovered 28 698 29 100 -1% 22 472 28%
------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Grade recovered (cpht) 1.77 1.61 10% 1.57 12%
------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
During the Period, 7.1 million tonnes of waste were mined. This
is in line with the revised life of mine plan which allows for
increased levels of higher grade ore from the higher value
Satellite Pipe to be mined annually. Due to seasonal rain impacting
access to ore and treatment rates, there was a reduction to the
tonnage treated when compared to the previous Quarter.
Letšeng's Plants 1 and 2 treated a total of 1.4 million tonnes
of ore during the Period, of which 64% was sourced from the Main
Pipe and 36% from the Satellite Pipe. The balance of the ore (0.2
million tonnes) for the Period was treated through the Alluvial
Ventures Plant which was sourced from the Main pipe and low grade
stockpiles. The increase of the grade recovered is reflective of
the area mined in the Satellite Pipe that has historically produced
higher than reserve grades albeit at a slightly smaller average
stone size, which contributed to a lower average $ per carat for
the Period.
2.2 Rough Diamond Sales and Diamonds Extracted for Manufacturing
First three tenders 2016** Q4 2015 QoQ First three tenders 2015* YoY
(2 tenders)* % Change % Change
--------------------- --------------------------- -------------- ---------- -------------------------- ----------
Carats sold 45 311 30 357 49% 35 940 26%
--------------------- --------------------------- -------------- ---------- -------------------------- ----------
Total value (US$
millions) 87.8 64.3 37% 77.5 13%
--------------------- --------------------------- -------------- ---------- -------------------------- ----------
Achieved US$/ct 1 938 2 117* -8% 2 157 -10%
--------------------- --------------------------- -------------- ---------- -------------------------- ----------
(*Includes carats extracted at rough value for polishing.)
** Includes (a) carats extracted at rough valuation for
polishing and (b) lower-value smaller commercial production carried
over at valuation.
2 This is the actual result achieved which exceeds the estimate
previously reported.
Three Letšeng tenders have been held in 2016, achieving an
average price of US$ 1 938** per carat (first three tenders in 2015
- US$ 2 157*), bringing the 12 month rolling average to US$ 2 198
per carat.
In line with the sales and marketing strategy, the lower-value
smaller commercial production is accumulated and carried over for a
larger volume sale once every quarter. This production from the
third export, valued at US$ 4.8 million, has been carried over to
be sold in the fourth tender to be held in June and has been
included at this value in determining the average US$ per carat for
the first three tenders of 2016.
209 carats were extracted during the first three tenders at a
rough value of US$ 2.9 million.
3. Ghaghoo
Gem Diamonds' wholly-owned subsidiary, Gem Diamonds Botswana
(Pty) Ltd, is currently developing the Ghaghoo Mine ("Ghaghoo") in
Botswana.
Q1 2016 Q4 2015 QoQ YoY
% change Q1 2015 % change
------------------------ -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Ore treated (tonnes) 50 514 85 046 -41% 48 740 4%
------------------------ -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Carats recovered 11 029 24 294 -55% 11 559 -5%
------------------------ -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Grade recovered (cpht) 21.8 28.6 -24% 23.7 -8%
------------------------ -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------
During the Period, Ghaghoo treated 50 514 tonnes of ore. This
reduced tonnage is in line with the strategy of downsizing and
reducing the production plan for 2016 to approximately 300 000
tonnes.
The Ghaghoo operation recovered 11 029 carats achieving a
recovered grade of 21.8cpht. The majority of the 50 514 tonnes of
ore treated was sourced from tunnels one to five on Level 1. The
area of the pipe mined was close to the contact and contained more
internal dilution and hence delivered a lower grade when compared
to the previous quarter.
The development of the second production block is progressing
well with over 200 metres of tunnelling completed per month which
will allow access to higher grade ore towards the centre of the
pipe from mid year onwards.
A parcel of 14 114 carats was sold for US$ 2.3 million in the
Period (US$ 160 per carat).
Although Ghaghoo will operate at a reduced production rate
during 2016, prices for the Ghaghoo production will continue to be
monitored and the option of returning to full production regularly
reviewed.
4. Health, Safety, Security 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.
During the Period, one LTI was reported at Ghaghoo bringing to
an end the Group's record of 460 LTI free days and resulting in a
Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) of 0.14. The Group All
Injury Frequency Rate (AIFR) is 1.71 for the Period. For the same
Period in 2015, the Group AIFR was 3.08.
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.
No significant community or environmental incidents have
occurred across the Group in 2016.
For further information:
Gem Diamonds Limited
Juliet Kirk, Investor Relations Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 203 043 0280
Bell Pottinger
Daniel Thöle
Tel: +44 (0) 203 772 2500
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, top colour, 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
END
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