Production resumes at Liqhobong Mine

Released : 01 Nov 2019 07:00

RNS Number : 8611R

Firestone Diamonds PLC

01 November 2019

1 November 2019

FIRESTONE DIAMONDS Plc

("Firestone", the "Group" or the "Company")

Production resumes at Liqhobong Mine

Firestone Diamonds plc (AIM: FDI), is pleased to announce that an alternative power supply has been implemented at its Liqhobong Diamond Mine ("Liqhobong") which has facilitated the resumption of production in the absence of grid electricity supply.

Further to the announcement on 15 October 2019 and quarterly operations update on 23 October 2019, the company has successfully commissioned the rented diesel generators. Production resumed on 26 October, and the processing plant is currently operating at between 80% and 90% of full capacity as the new power generation system is being optimised.

The generators are expected to be used to generate power until grid power is restored from the Muela Hydropower Station, which, according to the Lesotho Electricity Company, is scheduled to take place on 1 December 2019. Normal operating costs are expected to increase by the cost of renting the gensets and of the associated diesel consumption.

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ("MAR").

For more information please visit www.firestonediamonds.comor contact:

Firestone Diamonds plc+ 44 (0)20 3319 1690

Paul Bosma

Grant Ferriman

Macquarie Capital (Europe) Limited (Nomad and Broker)

+44 (0)20 3037 2000

Alex Reynolds

Tavistock (Public and Investor Relations)

+44 (0)20 7920 3150

Jos Simson

Gareth Tredway

Annabel de Morgan

Background information on Firestone

Firestone is an international diamond mining company with operations in Lesotho. Firestone commenced commercial production in July 2017 at the Liqhobong Diamond Mine. Liqhobong is owned 75% by Firestone and 25% by the Government of Lesotho. Lesotho is one of Africa's significant new diamond producers, hosting Gem Diamonds' Letšeng Mine, Firestone's Liqhobong Mine, Namakwa Diamonds' Kao Mine and Lucapa's Mothae Mine.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.comor visit www.rns.com.

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UPDLLFIEIILLVIA

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Firestone Diamonds plc published this content on 01 November 2019 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 01 November 2019 07:46:12 UTC