TIDMFDI 
 
RNS Number : 9691M 
Firestone Diamonds PLC 
09 February 2009 
 

Firestone Diamonds plc 
Buffels River Toll Treatment Update 
 
 
LONDON: 9 February, 2009 
 
 
Firestone Diamonds plc, ("Firestone" or "the Company"), the AIM-quoted diamond 
mining and exploration company (ticker: AIM:FDI), today announces that the toll 
treatment agreement at the Company's Bonte Koe Mine on the Buffels River has 
been terminated by De Beers Consolidated Mines ("De Beers"). De Beers has made a 
payment of approximately GBP2.5 million to the Company as compensation for early 
termination. 
 
 
Firestone has been notified by De Beers that it has completed a review of its 
Namaqualand Mines operations in South Africa, which include the toll treatment 
joint venture with Firestone at its Bonte Koe Mine on the Buffels River.  While 
Firestone has achieved all of the required throughput and operational targets 
since commencement of operations in 2006, a decrease in revenue received by De 
Beers from diamonds recovered and an increase in mining costs have resulted in 
De Beers deciding to suspend its Buffels River operations indefinitely.  Under 
the terms of the toll treatment agreement De Beers has made a payment to 
Firestone of approximately GBP2.5 million as compensation for early termination. 
Firestone retains ownership of the toll treatment plant under the agreement. 
 
 
Firestone's operations at Bonte Koe have now been suspended.The Bonte Koe plant, 
which has a capacity of approximately 1.5 million tonnes per annum, would be 
suitable for use at the Company's BK11 kimberlite project in Botswana. This 
would substantially reduce the time and cost to develop a new mining operation 
at BK11 and also significantly improve the economics of the project. The Company 
is currently making provisional plans to relocate the Bonte Koe plant and 
infrastructure to BK11, subject to results from bulk sampling which are expected 
to be available later this quarter. 
 
 
Philip Kenny, Chief Executive of Firestone Diamonds commented: "While we would 
like to have been able to continue with what was a very successful toll 
treatment operation at Bonte Koe, in current market conditions the GBP2.5 
million termination payment that we have received strengthens the Company's 
financial position.  We are continuing to pursue a number of significant new 
toll treatment opportunities and with our experience working for De Beers at 
Bonte Koe having proven that we have the capability to design, build and operate 
efficient, cost effective mining operations to a high standard, we are confident 
that we can continue to develop our toll treatment business." 
 
 
For further information, visit the Company's web site at 
www.firestonediamonds.com, or contact: 
 
 
+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Philip Kenny, Firestone Diamonds    | +44 20 8834 1028/+44 7831 324    | 
|                                     | 645                              | 
+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Gareth Tredway, Jos Simson, Conduit | +44 20 7429 6603/+44 7899 870    | 
| PR                                  | 450                              | 
+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Mike Jones/Ryan Gaffney, Canaccord  | +44 020 7050 6500                | 
| Adams (Joint Broker)                |                                  | 
+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Jerry Keen, Blue Oar (Joint Broker) | +44 20 7448 4492/+44 777 069     | 
|                                     | 7358                             | 
+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Alexander Dewar, Brewin Dolphin     | +44 131 529 0276                 | 
| (Nominated Adviser)                 |                                  | 
+-------------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
 
 
 
 
Background information on Firestone Diamonds: 
AIM quoted Firestone Diamonds plc ("FDI.L") is an international diamond mining 
and exploration company with operations in Botswana and South Africa.  Botswana 
is the world's largest and lowest cost producer of diamonds, with annual 
production worth over $2.5 billion, and is considered to be one of the most 
prospective countries in the world to explore for diamonds. 
 
 
Firestone is the largest holder of mineral rights in Botswana's diamondiferous 
kimberlite fields, controlling over 29,000 square kilometres around the major 
Orapa and Jwaneng mines and the entire Tsabong kimberlite field. Firestone has 
95 kimberlites in its portfolio, of which 24 have been proven to be 
diamondiferous. Sixteen of Firestone's kimberlites are at the bulk sampling 
stage, of which BK11 is the most advanced. 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
   END 
 
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