BlueRock Diamonds Reports Profitability
January 23, 20
(IDEX Online) - BlueRock Diamonds has announced that it operated profitably for the first time in the second half of 2019. The miner started operations in 2012. The AIM-listed diamond producer, which owns and operates the Kareevlei Diamond Mine in the Kimberley region of South Africa said its revenue was up 190 percent to £4.1 million ($5.4 million) for full year 2019. The miner sold 12,675 for the year, an increase of 118 percent over the 5,805 carats in 2018. On a quarterly basis, Q4 2019 saw an increase of 172 percent to 4,170 carats compared to 1,533 carats in Q4 2018. BlueRock also saw an increase in its average price per carat during Q4 and FY2019. For 2019, the per-carat price increased 24 percent to $415 (2018: $334) and for the quarter it rose 30 percent to $410 (2018: $316). "I am very pleased with the continued success at Kareevlei," said Mike Houston, BlueRock executive chairman. "Having achieved the aggressive guidance for 2019 and operated profitably for the first time in the second half of 2019. We are proud of this key milestone, which is a testament to the implementation of the revised production strategy brought in by the company's new management team in Q2 2019." BlueRock said it expects to report positive EBITDA and positive comprehensive income for the second half of 2019 (excluding non-cash adjustments for IFRS 9 charges and movement in foreign exchange). The company said the first quarter of 2020 has started "satisfactorily" with expectations that, despite the impact of seasonal rains, it will meet its targeted production volumes for the quarter, which are significantly ahead of those achieved in Q1 2019.