Mountain Province Diamonds Announces Third Quarter 2018 Production Results and Provides Details of Third Quarter Conference Call
TSX and NASDAQ: MPVD
TORONTO and NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2018 - Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. ("Mountain Province", the "Company") (TSX and NASDAQ: MPVD) today announces production results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 ("Q3 2018") from the Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine ("GK Mine"). The Company also provides the details of its Q3 conference call which will take place on November 13th, 2018 at 11:00am EDT.
Q3 2018 Production Highlights
(all figures reported on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated)
- The plant treated 759,000 tonnes during the quarter, 8% less than the same quarter last year as a result of a planned maintenance shut down in the plant.
- 1,819,000 carats were recovered at an average grade of approximately 2.40 carats per tonne in Q3 2018. Q3 2018 recovered grade of 2.40 carats per tonne, was 8% higher than the same quarter last year and increases the year to date grade profile to 2.21 carats per tonne.
- Ore tonnes mined in Q3 2018 were 1,155,000 tonnes, or 3% higher than the same quarter last year.
Q3 Production Statistics1
| 2018 Q3 | 2017 Q3 | YOY Variance | ||
| Total tonnes mined (ore and waste) | 11,592,000 | 8,313,000 | 39% | |
| Ore tonnes mined | 1,155,000 | 1,123,000 | 3% | |
| Ore tonnes treated | 759,000 | 823,000 | -8% | |
| Carats recovered | 1,819,000 | 1,825,000 | - | |
| Carats recovered (49% share) | 891,000 | 894,000 | - | |
| Recovered grade (carats per tonne) | 2.40 | 2.22 | 8% |
| 1 All figures reported are on 100% basis unless otherwise stated |
Q3 2018 Production Summary
The GK Mine operations had another solid quarter with over 11.6 million tonnes of material being mined. The recovered grade also continues to outperform expectations. The head grade in Q3 2018 was 2.40 carats per tonne which is significantly higher than originally anticipated. As a result, the year to date head grade at the plant has reached 2.21 carats per tonne which is 5% higher than our full year 2018 forecast grade. A planned maintenance shut down in the plant during the quarter resulted in less ore tonnes passing through the plant in comparison to what has been achieved in previous quarters of 2018. However, daily throughput in the plant continues to be consistant with our targets for the year.
At September 30 2018, the Company remains well positioned to achieve the upper end of its full year 2018 production guidance of 6.3 – 6.6 million carats recovered.
Stuart Brown, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: "The third quarter performance continues to follow the trend of ongoing excellent performance set by the GK Mine team, in a safe and sustainable manner. We expect this trend to continue into the last quarter of the year. The continued good performance is pleasing as the mine matures into its steady state production methodology of continuous improvement."
Q3 2018 Conference Call Details
The Company will release its 2018 Third Quarter results on Monday, November 12, 2018, after market close in Toronto and New York.
The Company will host a conference call to discuss the results on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Conference Call Dial-In Details:
| Conference ID: | 5565909 |
| Date of call: | 11/13/2018 |
| Time of call: | 11:00 Eastern Time |
| Expected Duration: | 60 minutes |
| Participant Toll-Free Dial-In Number: | (866) 300-0510 |
| Participant International Dial-In Number: | (636) 812-6656 |
| Replay: | (855) 859-2056 |
| International Dial-In: | (404) 537-3406 |
| Passcode: | 5565909 |
A replay will also be available on the Company's website.
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Mountain Province Diamonds is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kué diamond mine located in Canada's Northwest Territories. Gahcho Kué is the world's largest new diamond mine, consisting of a cluster of four diamondiferous kimberlites, three of which are being developed and mined under the initial 12 year mine plan.
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 Keyvan Salehi, P.Eng., MBA, a Qualified Person 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 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 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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Contact
Stuart Brown, President and CEO, 161 Bay Street, Suite 1410, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1, Phone: (416) 361-3562, E-mail: info@mountainprovince.com; Keyvan Salehi, Investor Relations, 161 Bay Street, Suite 1410, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1, Phone: (416) 361-3562, E-mail: info@mountainprovince.com