LESOTHO – Lucapa Diamond Company of Australia has announced the suspension of its mining operations at its mine in Lesotho, as the mountain kingdom imposes a two-week hard lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The mining company said that it has decided to suspend operations at the Mothae kimberlite mine with appropriate care and maintenance, and security measures.
Lucapa Diamond managing director Stephen Wetherall said that mining and processing operations would be restarted when the lockdown ends.
“Our priority is to ensure the health and safety of our valued teams on site. The suspension is expected to be temporary in nature as it is a mine operational health and safety decision, not a market limitation. Lucapa continues to engage with its financiers through this period as the diamond market continues its positive trajectory,” said Wetherall.
“The suspension is expected to be temporary in nature as it is a mine operational health and safety decision, not a market limitation”
Stephen Wetherall – Managing Director, Lucapa Diamond
Mothae Diamonds achieved the highest US$ per carat price ever achieved at a sale on the first sale of diamonds in 2021 when it sold a parcel of 4,676 carats of rough diamonds were sold for a total of US$5.6 million or $1,198 per carat.
This is the highest average $ per carat price achieved by Mothae on the sale of any run of mine production parcel.
Earlier, Lesotho Prime Minister, Moeketsi Majoro, had imposed a 14-day nation-wide lockdown at midnight Lesotho time on 14th January as infections surged in the mountain kingdom.
Reports said the tighter lockdown included a ban on all outbound international travel by Basotho nationals.
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