Mountain Province Diamonds Announces First Quarter 2023 Production and Sales Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. reported its Q1 2023 production and sales results, revealing a total of 1,319,603 carats recovered, up 11% from Q1 2022. However, ore tonnes mined dropped significantly by 58% to 427,925 tonnes. Despite these challenges, the company achieved record revenue of $128.7 million from sales of 961,024 carats, representing a substantial increase from last year's $84.7 million. The average recovered grade improved to 1.72 carats per tonne. Operational issues, including planned maintenance and lower plant availability, impacted production output. The CEO emphasized the need for operational improvements but expressed optimism about future revenue opportunities amid strong market demand.

Positive

• Achieved record Q1 revenue of $128.7 million, a 52% increase year-over-year.
• Sales of 961,024 carats, significantly up from 506,567 carats in Q1 2022.
• Recovered 1,319,603 carats, an 11% increase compared to Q1 2022.
• Average recoverable grade increased to 1.72 carats per tonne, up 3% from last year.

Negative

• Ore tonnes mined decreased by 58% to 427,925 tonnes.
• Production was hampered by lower than planned process plant availability.
• Operational performance did not meet management's expectations.

TSX and OTC: MPVD

TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. ("Mountain Province", the "Company") (TSX: MPVD) (OTC: MPVD) today announces production and sales results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 ("the Quarter" or "Q1 2023") from the Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine ("GK Mine"). All figures are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Q1 Production Takeaways
(all figures reported on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated)

• 1,319,603 carats recovered, 11% higher than last year's comparable quarter (Q1 2022: 1,185,156 carats)
• Average grade of 1.72 carats per tonne, a 3% increase relative to Q1 2022 (1.67 carats per tonne)
• 427,925 ore tonnes mined, a 58% decrease relative to last year's comparable quarter (Q1 2022: 1,018,722 ore tonnes mined)
• 766,786 ore tonnes treated, an 8% increase relative last year's comparable quarter (Q1 2022: 707,553 tonnes treated)

Q1 2023 Production Figures

	2023 Q1	2022 Q1	YoY Variance
Total tonnes mined (ore and waste)	8,935,015	8,167,801	9 %
Ore tonnes mined	427,925	1,018,722	-58 %
Ore tonnes treated	766,786	707,553	8 %
Carats recovered	1,319,603	1,185,156	11 %
Carats recovered (49% share)	646,605	580,726	11 %
Recovered grade (carats per tonne)	1.72	1.68	3 %

 

Q1 2023 Production was impacted by lower than planned process plant and loading unit availability. An annual planned major-maintenance shut-down will occur in May that is expected to address many of the areas in the plant seeing recurring unplanned downtime.

Q1 Sales Results

During the quarter 961,024 carats were sold for total proceeds of $128.7 million (US$95.0 million). This is the highest Q1 revenue recorded by the Company to date with three open market sales completed in the quarter. These results compare favourably with Q1 2022 when 506,567 carats were sold for total proceeds of $84.7 million (US$66.7 million). Achieving this milestone was a targeted effort to optimise revenue and expedite three full production splits into a strong market for small rough diamonds.

Mark Wall, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"While Q1 has historically proven to be a seasonally low production period, Q1 of 2023 has not met my expectations from an operational performance perspective. We are working with our operator and joint venture partner to ensure that the required resources and improvements are delivered to return to the performance that we saw in quarter four of last year.  While I remain optimistic about the growth and life extension opportunities at the GK mine, the day-to-day operational results from our operator need to improve.  We continue to expect to deliver production and costs within guidance for 2023. On the sales side we saw an excellent result in a resilient market amid strong demand from major jewelry brands and the continued recovery in the Chinese market."

About Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.

Mountain Province Diamonds is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kué diamond mine located in Canada's Northwest Territories. The Gahcho Kué Joint Venture property consists of several kimberlites that are actively being mined, developed, and explored for future development. The Company also controls more than 113,000 hectares of highly prospective mineral claims and leases surrounding the Gahcho Kué Mine that include an Indicated mineral resource for the Kelvin kimberlite and Inferred mineral resources for the Faraday kimberlites. Kelvin is estimated to contain 13.62 million carats (Mct) in 8.50 million tonnes (Mt) at a grade of 1.60 carats/tonne and value of US$63/carat. Faraday 2 is estimated to contain 5.45Mct in 2.07Mt at a grade of 2.63 carats/tonne and value of US$140/ct. Faraday 1-3 is estimated to contain 1.90Mct in 1.87Mt at a grade of 1.04 carats/tonne and value of US$75/carat. All resource estimations are based on a 1mm diamond size bottom cut-off.

For further information on Mountain Province Diamonds and to receive news releases by email, visit the Company's website at www.mountainprovince.com.

Qualified Person

The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding Mountain Province's mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Tom E. McCandless, Ph.D., P.Geo., and Matthew MacPhail, P.Eng, MBA, both employees of Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. and Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian and United States securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to operational hazards, including possible disruption due to pandemic such as COVID-19, its impact on travel, self-isolation protocols and business and operations, estimated production and mine life of the project of Mountain Province; the realization of mineral reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of production; the future price of diamonds; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; the ability to manage debt; capital expenditures; the ability to obtain permits for operations; liquidity; tax rates; and currency exchange rate fluctuations.  Except for statements of historical fact relating to Mountain Province, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates," "may," "can," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "targets," "intends," "likely," "will," "should," "to be", "potential" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "will" occur.  Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.  Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Mountain Province and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include the development of operation hazards which could arise in relation to COVID-19, including, but not limited to protocols which may be adopted to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and any impact of such protocols on Mountain Province's business and operations, variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in market conditions, changes in project parameters, mine sequencing; production rates; cash flow; risks relating to the availability and timeliness of permitting and governmental approvals; supply of, and demand for, diamonds; fluctuating commodity prices and currency exchange rates, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated.

These factors are discussed in greater detail in Mountain Province's most recent Annual Information Form and in the most recent MD&A filed on SEDAR, which also provide additional general assumptions in connection with these statements. Mountain Province cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Mountain Province believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Although Mountain Province has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended.  There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Mountain Province undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as the property is developed. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Further, Mountain Province may make changes to its business plans that could affect its results. The principal assets of Mountain Province are administered pursuant to a joint venture under which Mountain Province is not the operator. Mountain Province is exposed to actions taken or omissions made by the operator within its prerogative and/or determinations made by the joint venture under its terms. Such actions or omissions may impact the future performance of Mountain Province. Under its current note and revolving credit facilities Mountain Province is subject to certain limitations on its ability to pay dividends on common stock. The declaration of dividends is at the discretion of Mountain Province's Board of Directors, subject to the limitations under the Company's debt facilities, and will depend on Mountain Province's financial results, cash requirements, future prospects, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.

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SOURCE Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.

FAQ

What were Mountain Province Diamonds' production results for Q1 2023?

In Q1 2023, Mountain Province Diamonds recovered 1,319,603 carats, marking an 11% increase from the previous year.

How much revenue did Mountain Province Diamonds generate in Q1 2023?

Mountain Province Diamonds generated a record revenue of $128.7 million in Q1 2023.

What was the average recoverable grade in Q1 2023?

The average recoverable grade in Q1 2023 was 1.72 carats per tonne, a 3% increase from Q1 2022.

How did ore tonnes mined change in Q1 2023 for Mountain Province Diamonds?

Ore tonnes mined decreased by 58% to 427,925 tonnes in Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022.

What operational issues did Mountain Province Diamonds face in Q1 2023?

Mountain Province Diamonds faced lower than planned process plant availability, impacting production output.