Gem Diamonds Limited says the mining lease for its Letšeng mine has been renewed by the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho. According to the company, following a successful statutory negotiation process, the terms of the renewed mining lease were agreed with the Lesotho Mining Board and include the following material terms; the lease is renewed with immediate effect for a period of 10 years ( the maximum period allowed under the 2005 Mines and Minerals Act – the Act ) with an exclusive right granted to Letšeng to renew the mining lease for a further period of 10 years; The respective shareholding in the Letšeng mine remains unaltered.

Equally, under the deal, the royalty payable in respect of diamonds sold by Letšeng is increased from 8% to 10% (the current stipulated rate under the Act) with effect from 3 October 2019; The royalty may be remitted in whole or in part in the event that Letšeng embarks upon any material capital project; The number of work permits which may be granted to Letšeng in respect of foreign nationals increases in order to fill any skills gap at the mining operations.

Gem Diamonds’ CEO, Clifford Elphick said the company proud of our long-standing partnership with the Government and the people of Lesotho.  “The mining lease renewal will allow the Letšeng mine to continue to make a very significant economic and social contribution to the people of Lesotho,”   Elphick said.

“Gem Diamonds would like to thank the Government of Lesotho for its ongoing support and we look forward to continuing the shared value creation long into the future.”