Strong Diamond Sale Results (3081F)
April 21 2011 - 2:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMFDI
RNS Number : 3081F
Firestone Diamonds PLC
21 April 2011
Firestone Diamonds plc
Strong diamond sale results
LONDON: 21 April, 2011
Firestone Diamonds plc, ("Firestone" or "the Company"), the
AIM-quoted diamond mining and exploration company (ticker:
AIM:FDI), is pleased to announce results from the diamond tender
recently held in Gaborone, Botswana.
HIGHLIGHTS
-- First diamond sale of 2011 completed
- 7,111 carats sold for gross proceeds of approximately
$1.4 million
- Tender attended by more than 25 local and international
buyers
-- Liqhobong
- 4,850 carats from the Main Pipe and Satellite
Pipe sold at an average price of $181/carat, an
increase of 85% from December 2010
- Excluding Satellite Pipe production and diamonds
held over from 2010, run of mine production from
the Main Pipe was valued at an average of $130/carat,
an increase of 33% since December 2010
- Prices for small diamonds, cape yellows and browns
increased by up to 50% since December 2010
- Higher prices expected for diamonds from the Main
Pipe as production ramps up
-- BK11
- 2,241 carats sold at an average price of $230/carat,
an increase of 30% since December 2010
- Excluding diamonds held over from 2010, run of
mine production was valued at an average of $202/carat,
an increase of 14% since December 2010
- Higher diamond prices expected once new crushing
circuit is commissioned
Tim Wilkes, CEO of Firestone Diamonds, commented: "We are very
pleased with the results of our latest diamond sale, which show
significant increases in prices achieved from both Liqhobong and
BK11. The higher prices reflect the quality of production from the
mines as well as the continued strength of the rough diamond
market. We expect to see significant further increases in prices
achieved for production from Liqhobong and BK11 as production at
both mines increases in 2011".
The Company has completed its first sale in 2011 of diamonds
from the Liqhobong Mine in Lesotho and BK11 Mine in Botswana.
Prices achieved were very good, with Liqhobong diamonds achieving
an average price of $181 per carat and BK11 diamonds achieving an
average price of $230 per carat. A total of 7,111 carats were sold
for gross proceeds of approximately $1.4 million. The sale was held
at the Company's sales office at Diamond Technology Park in
Gaborone, Botswana. Demand from local and international buyers
remained extremely strong, with a total of 25 companies attending
the tender.
Liqhobong
A total of 4,850 carats from both the Main Pipe and Satellite
Pipe at Liqhobong were sold on behalf of the Company's 75% owned
subsidiary, Liqhobong Mining Development Co. (Pty) Ltd, for
$880,220. The average price achieved of $181/carat is 85% higher
than the price achieved in December 2010 of $98/carat. It should be
noted that the Liqhobong parcel included diamonds from the
Satellite Pipe and some higher quality diamonds from the Main Pipe
that had been held over from the December 2010 diamond sale.
Excluding these diamonds, the value of run of mine production from
the Main Pipe in 2011 is now estimated at $130/carat, a 33%
increase from the December 2010 valuation.
Demand for small diamonds, cape yellows and browns was very
strong and prices for many of these categories increased by up to
50% since the December 2010 tender. The absence of large, high
value stones, which are proven to occur in the Main Pipe, in the
parcel that was sold indicates that higher prices will be obtained
as production at Liqhobong continues to ramp up in 2011 and the
Plant 1 expansion project progresses.
With an average grade of 34 carats per hundred tonnes, the Main
Pipe now has an estimated revenue of $44/tonne. Operating costs
once the current Plant 1 expansion project has been completed in Q4
2011 are estimated at $16/tonne, which would give operating margins
of over 60%. Profitability is expected to increase further when
mining of the higher grade and higher revenue per carat K5 and K6
units commences later in 2011. These results support the Company's
assessment of Liqhobong as one of the most attractive undeveloped
diamond resources in the world.
BK11
A total of 2,241 carats from BK11 were sold on behalf of the
Company's 90% owned subsidiary, Monak Venture (Pty) Limited, for
$516,011. The average price achieved of $230/carat is 30% higher
than the price achieved in December 2010 of $177/carat, although
the parcel sold also included some diamonds that had been held over
from the December 2010 diamond sale. When these diamonds are
excluded, the price achieved for BK11 production in 2011 was
$202/carat, a 14% increase from the December 2010 sale. The result
is very significant, as 2011 production was comprised of mostly
smaller diamonds due to the liberation problems that have been
experienced at the BK11 plant, as outlined in the announcement of
30 March 2011. Once the planned new secondary crushing is put into
operation later in Q2 2011, the average stone size is expected to
increase and higher diamond prices are anticipated.
For further information, visit the Company's web site at
www.firestonediamonds.com or contact:
+44 20 8834 1028/+44 7831
Philip Kenny, Chairman, Firestone 324 645
Diamonds +27 78 457 6623/+267 713
Tim Wilkes, CEO, Firestone Diamonds 77686
Tim Redfern, Evolution Securities
(Joint Broker) +44 20 7071 4312
Rory Scott, Mirabaud Securities
(Joint Broker) +44 20 7878 3360
Alexander Dewar, Brewin Dolphin
(Nominated Adviser) +44 131 529 0276
Jos Simson / Emily Fenton, Tavistock +44 20 7920 3150/+44 7899
Communications 870 450
Background information on Firestone Diamonds:
Firestone Diamonds plc is an international diamond mining and
exploration company with operations focused on Lesotho and
Botswana. Firestone operates the Liqhobong Mine in Lesotho and the
BK11 Mine in Botswana. Firestone is also the largest holder of
mineral rights in Botswana's diamondiferous kimberlite fields,
controlling approximately 10,000 square kilometres around the major
Orapa and Jwaneng mines and the entire Tsabong kimberlite field. In
addition to Liqhobong and BK11, Firestone has 108 kimberlites in
its portfolio, of which 30 have been proven to be
diamondiferous.
Lesotho is emerging as one of Africa's significant new diamond
producers, and hosts Firestone's Liqhobong Mine as well as Gem
Diamonds' Letseng Mine and the Kao and Mothae development projects.
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.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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