Mountain Province Diamonds Announces Outbreak of Covid-19 at Gacho Kué - No Production Interruption Expected
Mountain Province Diamonds has reported a COVID-19 outbreak at its Gahcho Kué mine in the Northwest Territories, with four cases confirmed. The entire workforce is fully vaccinated, and no material impact on production is anticipated. Increased safety measures were implemented as a response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. All other personnel tested negative. The company emphasizes the effectiveness of its safety protocols and expresses gratitude for its partnership with De Beers and Anglo American.
- No material impact on production expected despite COVID-19 outbreak.
- All mine personnel tested negative after site-wide testing.
- Four confirmed COVID-19 cases among the workforce.
TSX and OTCQX: MPVD
TORONTO and NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. ("Mountain Province", or the "Company") (TSX: MPVD) (OTCQX: MPVD) announces the declaration of an outbreak of Covid-19 at Gahcho Kué by the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer in the Northwest Territories. The entire workforce at Gahcho Kué is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and at this time no material impact to production is expected.
Four cases of Covid-19 have been detected at Gahcho Kué, with three individuals exhibiting mild cold-like symptoms. Eight close contacts are in quarantine and have tested negative. All other mine personnel have also tested negative following site-wide testing conducted on December 26th. On December 22nd, Gahcho Kué implemented heightened preventative measures on site, over-and-above the base-line stringent safety measures due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in Canada.
Mark Wall, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"The team on site has done a fantastic job in sustaining operations through a pandemic that has impacted all of our lives. We are very fortunate to have De Beers and Anglo American as our joint venture partner and operator, with our shared focus on employee safety and operational continuity. It is important that we continue the strenuous controls in place to protect both our people and the communities of the Northwest Territories."
About the Company
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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.
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