Mountain Province Diamonds Announces Second Quarter 2023 Operating and Sales Results
- Operational highlights for Q2 2023 show consistent ore tonnes treated compared to Q2 2022, with a 6% increase in carats recovered and average grade.
- The major plant shutdown in mid-June resulted in repaired/replaced equipment and strategies to reduce unplanned downtime.
- Q2 2023 production figures show a 17% increase in total tonnes mined, a 43% decrease in ore tonnes mined, and a 6% increase in carats recovered compared to Q2 2022.
- The revised ore mined guidance for 2023 is 3.0 - 3.6 million ore tonnes, down from the previous guidance of 4.10 - 4.50 million ore tonnes.
- Sales highlights for Q2 2023 include 360,308 carats sold for $59.9 million, resulting in an average price of $166 per carat.
- The reduction in volume sold in Q2 2023 was due to accelerated sales in Q1 2023, and the average price per carat was offset by a coarser mix of goods sold.
- The market for smaller goods at Gahcho Kué continues to show resilience and positive demand outlook.
- There was a 43% decrease in ore tonnes mined in Q2 2023 compared to Q2 2022.
- The revised ore mined guidance for 2023 is lower than the previous guidance.
- The reduction in volume sold in Q2 2023 was due to accelerated sales in a previous quarter.
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Operational Highlights for Second Quarter 2023
(all figures reported on a
- 750,241 ore tonnes treated, largely unchanged relative to Q2 2022, (Q2 2022: 749,821 tonnes treated;)
- 1,339,196 carats recovered,
6% higher than the comparable quarter (Q2 2022: 1,260,899 carats) - Average grade of 1.79 carats per tonne, a
6% increase relative to Q2 2022 (1.68 carats per tonne) - 595,990 ore tonnes mined, a
43% decrease relative to last year's comparable quarter (Q2 2022: 1,043,348 ore tonnes mined)
In mid-June a planned 5-day major plant shutdown was safely executed. Process equipment, which had been responsible for repeated unplanned downtime, was repaired/replaced, with strategies implemented to ensure reduced unplanned downtime going forward. Plant stability has benefitted from the shutdown, with throughput expected to ramp-up though H2/23.
2023 Q2 | 2022 Q2 | YoY | |
Total tonnes mined (ore and waste) | 9,235,465 | 7,880,914 | 17 % |
Ore tonnes mined | 595,990 | 1,043,348 | -43 % |
Ore tonnes treated | 750,241 | 749,821 | 0 % |
Carats recovered | 1,339,196 | 1,260,899 | 6 % |
Carats recovered ( | 656,206 | 617,840 | 6 % |
Recovered grade (carats per tonne) | 1.79 | 1.68 | 6 % |
A transition to greater waste stripping activities than planned in the Tuzo pit, driven by the need to reduce the effects of interactive mining, has resulted in less mining activity in the 5034 pit than planned with the ore release from this pit deferred to future periods. Given the sizeable ore stockpile (1.27 million tonnes grading 1.26 ct./tonne, containing 1.59 million carats) and resource overperformance relative to the model, there is no production interruption expected from this deferral. Given this ore release deferral, it is appropriate to revise the ore mined guidance for the 2023 operating year. For the full year 2023 Company expects:
- 3.0 – 3.6 million ore tonnes mined
- Previously 4.10 – 4.50 million ore tonnes mined
- All other guidance remains unchanged
During the second quarter, 360,308 carats were sold for total proceeds of
The reduction in volume sold in Q2 2023 relative to Q2 2022 was due to the acceleration of sales into Q1 2023, where three sales were held versus the historical norm of two. Relative to Q2 2022, average price per carat in Q2 2023 benefitted from a coarser than average mix of goods sold, offsetting a softening in the market. We expect a finer mix of goods sold in Q3 2023.
Despite a softening of the broader rough diamond market in Q2 2023, the market for smaller goods, making up the majority of Gahcho Kué goods, continues to show resilience and a more positive demand outlook. The Company expects that the Gahcho Kué production will continue to attract sustained market demand.
"Q2 2023 saw quarter-on-quarter operational improvements across most operating metrics at site. While I am pleased to see this incremental improvement, there remains much work to be done to ensure that we are able to achieve planned mining and processing rates in a more sustainable way. We are working together with our JV partner to allow for more predictable outcomes.
On the rough diamond market, we were glad to see our sales performance stay resilient amongst some broader market turbulence."
Mountain Province Diamonds is a
The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding Mountain Province's mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Matthew MacPhail, P.Eng., MBA, and Tom E. McCandless, Ph.D., P.Geo., both employees of Mountain Province Diamonds and Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian and
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.
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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