Petra Diamonds Limited Launch of Artisanal Mining Initiative
31 Octubre 2019 - 1:01AM
RNS Non-Regulatory
TIDMPDL
Petra Diamonds Limited
31 October 2019
31 October 2019 LSE: PDL
Petra Diamonds Limited
("Petra" or the "Company")
Launch of Artisanal Small Scale Mining Initiative in
Koffiefontein
Petra Diamonds Limited today announces the launch of an
Artisanal Small Scale Mining ("ASM") initiative in the Free State
town of Koffiefontein in South Africa. This follows a process of
extensive consultation and cooperation with relevant stakeholders,
including the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy
("DMR&E"), as mining sector regulator, the Letsemeng Local
Municipality, as elected representatives of the community, and the
community itself. During this project, the aim was to create a
framework within which ASM can be conducted by community members in
a legal and regulated manner.
Petra believes that there is a space for artisanal small scale
miners to co-exist with formalised, large-scale mining, since ASM
can often profitably recover diamonds from resources that would be
unprofitable, or at best marginal, for a larger operator due to the
capital and overhead costs involved. A decision was taken to make
available some of the Tailings Mineral Resources ("TMR"), notably
the resource generally referred to as the "Eskom dump", for the
benefit of the community of Koffiefontein. The intention is that
properly regulated artisanal mining, which would comply with the
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, as well as other standards
for such operations set by, inter alia, the United Nations, will be
conducted on this resource.
This is the second ASM initiative put in place by the Company,
further to Petra's efforts and involvement in establishing the ASM
sector in Kimberley. This culminated in the landmark agreement in
2017 between Kimberley Ekapa Mining JV, in which Petra had a
majority interest at the time, and other stakeholders, with the
result that available TMRs in Kimberley were allocated to two
community-based primary mining co-operatives, Batho Pele and Goede
Hoop.
Work on the project at Koffiefontein commenced soon after the
conclusion of the above agreement, with the intention to take into
account the learnings from the initiative in Kimberley and put in
place an ASM dispensation in Koffiefontein that would be able to
both optimally exploit the available resource, and accrue maximum
benefit to the community. To this end, the Koffiefontein Community
Mining Primary Cooperative ("KCM") has been officially established
and registered as the primary beneficiaries of this project and the
infrastructure and processes required to ensure the operation of
this venture have been put in place.
Richard Duffy, Chief Executive of Petra, commented:
"We regard this initiative as yet another milestone in the Petra
legacy and we welcome the KCM artisanal miners as partners in our
industry to complement our own operations and extract optimal
benefit from the diamond reserves in Koffiefontein. We wish KCM all
of the best with this venture, and thank our Government and
community partners for their continued support of both the project
and the KCM."
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Petra Diamonds, London Telephone: +44 20 7494 8203
Cathy Malins
Des Kilalea
Marianna Bowes investorrelations@petradiamonds.com
Buchanan Telephone: +44 20 7466 5000
(PR Adviser)
Bobby Morse
Ariadna Peretz pdl@buchanan.uk.com
About Petra Diamonds Limited
Petra Diamonds is a leading independent diamond mining group and
a consistent supplier of gem quality rough diamonds to the
international market. The Company has a diversified portfolio
incorporating interests in three underground producing mines in
South Africa (Finsch, Cullinan and Koffiefontein) and one open pit
producing mine in Tanzania (Williamson). Petra also conducts a
limited exploration programme in Botswana and South Africa.
Petra's strategy is to focus on value rather than volume
production by optimising recoveries from its high-quality asset
base in order to maximise their efficiency and profitability. The
Group has a significant resource base of ca. 250 million carats,
which supports the potential for long-life operations.
Petra conducts all operations according to the highest ethical
standards and will only operate in countries which are members of
the Kimberley Process. The Company aims to generate tangible value
for each of its stakeholders, thereby contributing to the
socio-economic development of its host countries and supporting
long-term sustainable operations to the benefit of its employees,
partners and communities.
Petra is quoted with a premium listing on the Main Market of the
London Stock Exchange under the ticker 'PDL' and is a constituent
of the FTSE4Good Index. The Company's US$650 million loan notes due
in 2022 are listed on the Global Exchange market of the Irish Stock
Exchange. For more information, visit www.petradiamonds.com.
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