4th March 2025
Botswana Diamonds
PLC
("Botswana Diamonds" or the
"Company")
Mining
Permit Granted for Thorny River
The board of Botswana Diamonds plc
("BOD" or "The Company") is pleased to announce that a Mining
Permit has been granted over the Company's Thorny River project in
South Africa.
The Thorny River project is close to
the well known mined-out Marsfontein mine. BOD has undertaken
extensive geophysics, drilling and bulk sampling along the Thorny
River dyke-system. The geology and grades were consistent with
those in the nearby Klipspringer Mine to the West. Two kimberlite
blows (ie. a significant widening of the kimberlite dyke) which are
commercial at the right diamond price and which include the River
and River Extension zones within the Thorny River project were
outlined. The Company applied for two mining permits over these two
zones and one has now been received.
Given the focus of BOD on Botswana,
it was decided to use contractors to mine the nearby Marsfontein
gravels and dumps project as a "proof of concept" with BOD
receiving a 15% revenue royalty. A contractor moved on site and
undertook some trial mining. Falling diamond prices and delays in
permitting resulted in the project being put on care and
maintenance in October 2023. Once diamond prices recover, mining
could resume at Marsfontein, as well as commence at Thorny River,
now that permits are in force.
John Teeling, Chairman, commented "At last we have received
the mining permit. We also note a small improvement in diamond
prices. If the price rises are sustained, we can look forward to
the commencement of contractor mining at Thorny
River".
This release has been approved by
James Campbell, Managing Director of Botswana Diamonds plc, a
qualified geologist (Pr.Sci.Nat), a Fellow of the Geological
Society of South Africa, a Fellow of the Southern African Institute
of Mining and Metallurgy, a Fellow of the Institute of Materials,
Metals and Mining (UK) and with over 38-years' experience in the
diamond sector.
A copy of this announcement is
available on the Company's website, at www.botswanadiamonds.co.uk
This announcement contains
inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market
Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law
by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as
amended.
Enquiries:
Botswana Diamonds PLC
John Teeling, Chairman
James Campbell, Managing
Director
Jim Finn, Director
|
+353 1 833 2833
+27 83 457 3724
+353 1 833 2833
|
Nominated & Financial Adviser
Strand Hanson Limited
Ritchie Balmer
Rory Murphy
David Asquith
|
+44 (0) 20 7409 3494
|
Broker
First Equity Limited
Jason Robertson
|
+44
(0) 207 374 2212
|
Public Relations
BlytheRay
Megan Ray
Said Izagaren
|
+44
(0) 207 138 3204
|
Teneo
Luke Hogg
|
+353 (0) 1 661 4055
|
www.botswanadiamonds.co.uk
About Botswana Diamonds
Botswana Diamonds (BOD) is a diamond
explorer focused in the Kalahari Desert, where it holds prime
diamond exploration acreage as well as KX 36 diamond discovery.
Ongoing work on the acreage has identified a five drill ready
targets. A record AI analyse of the large BOD database has
identified seven previously unreported Kimberlite anomalies as well
as a number of polymetallic anomalies.
ENDS