Production disruption due to power fluctuations

Released : 04 Oct 2019 12:06

RNS Number : 8456O

Firestone Diamonds PLC

04 October 2019

4 October 2019

Firestone Diamonds plc

("Firestone" or the "Company")

Production disruption due to power fluctuations

The Company announces a production disruption at its 75% owned Liqhobong Mine in Lesotho due to intermittent power supply. The Liqhobong Mine is supplied electricity from the Muela Hydropower Station (MHS) which is owned by the Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) and which forms part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 1 Katse Dam.

The MHS commenced a two month maintenance shutdown on 1 October at which time ongoing supply was to be provided by Eskom, South Africa's power utility company. Since then, the mine experienced unexpected voltage fluctuations that caused the drives of the plant equipment to trip and as a result, operations have been severely disrupted. Management is addressing the issue urgently with the LEC and Eskom, and will provide further updates in due course.

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

Firestone Diamonds plc

+44 (0)20 3319 1690

Paul Bosma

Grant Ferriman

Macquarie Capital (Europe) L i m i t e d ( N o m a d a n d

+44 (0)20 3037 2000

Broker)

Nick Stamp

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.

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Disclaimer

Firestone Diamonds plc published this content on 04 October 2019 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 04 October 2019 11:11:01 UTC