First diamond sale in 2021 achieves US$5.6m at US$1,198 per carat Highest US$ per carat price ever achieved by Mothae at sale Mothae to further benefit from margins earned on cutting & polishing
Lucapa Diamond Company Limited (ASX: LOM) (“Lucapa” or “the Company”) and its partner, the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho (“GoL”), are pleased to provide an update on the first sale of diamonds in 2021 from the Mothae kimberlite mine (“Mothae”) in Lesotho.
The parcel of 4,676 carats of rough diamonds were sold for a total of US$5.6 million (A$7.2 million) or US$1,198 per carat (A$1,537 per carat). This is the highest average US$ per carat price achieved by Mothae on the sale of any run of mine production parcel.
The sale included a number of Specials (diamonds weighing >10.8 carats), including the 101 carat D colour diamond recovered following re-opening of the mine in Q4 2020 (refer ASX announcement 10 December 2020), which is the most valuable diamond recovered to date at Mothae.
Lucapa Managing Director, Stephen Wetherall commented “Following a tough 2020, where both of our mines were impacted by the pandemic, our valued teams have shown their resilience and operations have bounced back strongly. The good recoveries at both mines and growing demand leading to strengthening diamond prices has seen a strong start to 2021.”
“We look forward to Mothae receiving further value following implementation of the cutting & polishing partnership and to completing the expansion at Mothae this quarter.”
Authorised by the Lucapa Board.
STEPHEN WETHERALL
MANAGING DIRECTOR
ABOUT LUCAPA
Lucapa is a niche diamond producer with high-value mines in Angola (Lulo) and Lesotho (Mothae).
The Lulo alluvial mine and Mothae kimberlite mine both produce large and high-value diamonds, with >75% of revenues generated from the recovery of +4.8 carat stones.
Lulo has produced 17 +100 carat diamonds to date and is one of the highest average US$ per carat alluvial diamond producers in the world. Lucapa and its Project Lulo partners have also received highly encouraging results from their search to discover the primary hard-rock source of the high-value Lulo alluvial diamonds.
The 1.1Mtpa Mothae kimberlite mine in diamond-rich Lesotho commenced commercial mining and processing operations in January 2019. It produced >30,000 carats in its first year of production, and 4 +100 carat diamonds to date. Lucapa has recently secured funding to commission a ~45% expansion in the processing capacity of the Mothae kimberlite mine from 1.1Mtpa to 1.6Mtpa which is scheduled for completion in Q1 2021.
Lucapa’s Board, management team and new strategic investors have decades of diamond industry experience across the globe and right through the diamond pipeline, particularly in extracting value from large and high-quality diamonds.
Competent Person’s Statement
Information included in this announcement that relates to exploration results and resource estimates is based on and fairly represents information and supporting documentation prepared and compiled by Richard Price MAusIMM who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Price is an employee of Lucapa Diamond Company Limited. Mr Price has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Price consents to the inclusion in the announcement of the matters based on this information in the form and context in which it appears.
No New Information
To the extent that this announcement contains references to prior exploration results and Mineral Resource estimates, which have been cross referenced to previous market announcements made by the Company, unless explicitly stated, no new information is contained. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the relevant market announcements and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement has been prepared by the Company. This document contains background information about the Company and its related entities current at the date of this announcement. This is in summary form and does not purport to be all inclusive or complete. Recipients should conduct their own investigations and perform their own analysis in order to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy and completeness of the information, statements and opinions contained in this announcement.
This announcement is for information purposes only. Neither this document nor the information contained in it constitutes an offer, invitation, solicitation or recommendation in relation to the purchase or sale of shares in any jurisdiction.
This announcement may not be distributed in any jurisdiction except in accordance with the legal requirements applicable in such jurisdiction. Recipients should inform themselves of the restrictions that apply in their own jurisdiction. A failure to do so may result in a violation of securities laws in such jurisdiction.
This document does not constitute investment advice and has been prepared without taking into account the recipient’s investment objectives, financial circumstances or particular needs and the opinions and recommendations in this representation are not intended to represent recommendations of particular investments to particular persons.
Recipients should seek professional advice when deciding if an investment is appropriate. All securities transactions involve risks, which include (among others) risks associated with mining, exploration, operations, resource, environment, funding and adverse or unanticipated market, financial, currency or political developments.
No responsibility for any errors or omissions from this document arising out of negligence or otherwise is accepted. This document does include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are outside the control of the Company. Actual values, results, outcomes or events may be materially different to those expressed or implied in this announcement. Given these uncertainties, recipients are cautioned not to place reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements in this announcement speak only at the date of issue of this announcement. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law and ASX Listing Rules, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any information.
Source: Lucapa 11-1-2021