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Petra Diamonds Ltd

Petra Diamonds Ltd - Q3 FY 2025 Operating & Business Update

 

  

        22 May 2025 LSE: PDL

 

 

Petra Diamonds Limited

 

Q3 FY 2025 Operating & Business Update

 

 

Petra is today providing the following operating and business update for Q3 FY 2025. The quarter marked another period of steady operational delivery across the Group. The Group continued to execute on its short-term priorities, including labour restructuring, general cost control and disciplined capital management. Both Cullinan and Finsch Mines maintained their solid performances, supported by the ongoing focus on safe, stable operations and a revised cost discipline approach. The Group remains on track to deliver production guidance for FY 2025 of 2.4 - 2.7 Mcts for the SA Operations.

 

Operationally, Finsch began mining from the 81L block, which should result in improved quality and higher overall recovered value. As mentioned in the recent update on 9 April, while production volumes were largely maintained at Cullinan Mine, it continued to experience weaker product mix. Recovery is expected to improve as tonnage from the new CC1E sub-level cave ramps up and extensions to the C-Cut progress, but short-term volatility in product mix is likely to continue.

 

The partial sale of Tender 5 for Finsch and Williamson was completed in early April, resulting in total sales of 176kcts sold for US$18 million. Due to the uncertainty caused by the US tariff announcement, a decision was made to delay the sale of Tender 5 goods from Cullinan Mine, which we expect to complete in early June 2025, along with our Tender 6 cycle.  

 

The labour restructuring in support services that was initiated in December 2024 was successfully concluded during the quarter. As an outcome of our Life of Mine plan reviews, the Cullinan Mine will transition from a Continuous Operation (Contops) to a 3-shift operation in FY26. Consequently, a Section 189A (retrenchment) consultation process was initiated at the beginning of May 2025.   This process is expected to be completed by mid-July 2025, and marks the final element of the internal Business Restructuring Plan that was launched in December 2024.

 

Petra also announced the completion of the sale of Williamson Diamond Mine to Pink Diamonds. This is in line with streamlining Petra to our two core South African assets, which present significant value over the long term.

 

Vivek Gadodia and Juan Kemp, interim joint Chief Executive Officers of Petra, commented:

 

"Alongside the broader diamond sector, Petra has been navigating a very difficult diamond market. Despite this, Petra has shown considerable resilience by delivering on its production and cost targets, while undergoing unprecedented changes in the Business, including the regrettable loss of jobs. We fully appreciate all the sacrifices, commitment, and hard work of our employees.

 

We believe the steps we have taken over the past 12 months position Petra well for a successful refinancing. We will now look to commence engagements with our lenders on the refinancing of our debt maturing in early 2026.”

 


Highlights vs Q2 FY 2025 (excludes Williamson as a discontinued operation)

  

    --  LTIFR and LTIs are 3 and 0.42 respectively (Q2 FY 2025: 2 and 0.26
        respectively)
    --  Ore processed reduced marginally to 1.7Mt from 1.8Mt with the continued
        ramp-up of production at Finsch offset by lower output from Cullinan
        mine. ROM grade performance across both operations is similar to the
        previous quarter
    --  Revenue amounted to US$42 million (Q2 FY 2024: US$106 million) with Q2
        FY 2025 benefiting from the deferral of Tender 1 FY 2025 to Q2 FY 2025
    --  The South African Rand weakened following a period of strength, with the
        Rand averaging ZAR18.48:US$1 (Q2 FY 2025: ZAR17.89:US$1)
    --  Capital expenditure for Q3 FY 2025 totalled US$15 million, in-line with
        guidance announced following the smoother capital profile implemented in
        FY 2024
    --  Bank loans and borrowings represent the Group’s ZAR1.75 billion (US$93
        million) revolving credit facility (RCF). As at 31 March 2025, ZAR 1.2
        billion (US$66 million) was drawn, following a drawdown of US$22 million
        from the RCF for working capital purposes in February 2025
    --  Consolidated net debt increased to US$258 million as at 31 March 2025
        (31 December 2024: US$225 million) due to working capital requirements
    --  Balance of Tender 5 and Tender 6 results expected to be announced in
        June 2025

 

Operating Summary (excludes Williamson as a discontinued operation) 


                    Three months                        Nine months YTD
Safety,
sales and    Unit   Q3        Q2
production2                             Var. Q3 FY 2024 FY 2025   FY 2024   Var.
                    FY 2025   FY 2025

Safety

LTIFR        -      0.42      0.26      +62% 0.30       0.38      0.24      +58%

LTIs         Number 3         2         +50% 3          9         8         +13%

Sales

Diamonds     Carats 558,651   1,113,364 -50% 386,444    1,672,034 1,925,777 -13%
sold

Revenue1     US$m   41.6      105.9     -61% 47.7       156.0     211.3     -26%

Production

ROM tonnes   Tonnes 1,585,838 1,640,637 -3%  1,634,715  4,793,312 5,030,571 -5%

Tailings and Tonnes 124,703   110,625   +13% 75,100     333,330   262,343   +27%
other tonnes

Total tonnes Tonnes 1,710,541 1,751,262 -2%  1,709,815  5,126,642 5,292,914 -3%
treated

ROM diamonds Carats 563,875   567,301   -1%  562,033    1,649,541 1,748,349 -6%

Tailings and
other        Carats 45,920    65,143    -30% 22,227     159,920   102,863   +55%
diamonds

Total        Carats 609,795   632,444   -4%  584,260    1,809,461 1,851,212 -2%
diamonds

1 Revenue reflects proceeds from the sale of rough diamonds and excludes revenue from profit share arrangements

2 Re-presented to exclude Williamson which is classified as a discontinued operation

 

 

 

 

INVESTOR WEBCASTS

 

There will be no investor webcasts for the Q3 FY 2025 Operating Update.

 

FURTHER INFORMATION

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Investor Relations, London

              Telephone: +44 (0)7495470187

Kelsey Traynor           investorrelations@petradiamonds.com

 

 

About Petra Diamonds Limited

Petra Diamonds is a leading independent diamond mining group and a supplier of gem quality rough diamonds to the international market. The Company’s portfolio incorporates interests in two underground mines in South Africa (Cullinan and Finsch Mines).

 

Petra's strategy is to focus on value rather than volume production by optimising recoveries from its high-quality asset base in order to maximise their efficiency and profitability. The Group has a significant resource base which supports the potential for long-life operations.

 

Petra strives to conduct all operations according to the highest ethical standards and only operates in countries which are members of the Kimberley Process. The Company aims to generate tangible value for each of its stakeholders, thereby contributing to the socio-economic development of its host countries and supporting long-term sustainable operations to the benefit of its employees, partners and communities.

 

Petra is quoted on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker 'PDL'. The Company’s loan notes, due in 2026, are listed on EuroNext Dublin (Irish Stock Exchange). For more information, visit www.petradiamonds.com.

Corporate and financial summary 31 March 2025 (excludes Williamson as a discontinued operation)

  

 _____________________________________________________________________________
|                |      |              |As at 31|             |As at 30 June|||
|                |Unit  |As at 31 March|December|As at 30     |             |||
|                |      |2025          |        |September2024|2024         |||
|                |      |              |2024    |             |             |||
|________________|______|______________|________|_____________|_____________|||
|Total cash at   |US$m  |36            |        |47           |47           |||
|bank¹           |      |              |52      |             |             |||
|________________|______|______________|________|_____________|_____________|||
|Diamond debtors |US$m  |2             |—       |—            |31           |||
|________________|______|______________|________|_____________|_____________|||
|Diamond         |US$m  |31            |27      |84           |28           |||
|inventories2    |      |              |        |             |             |||
|                |Carats|397,182       |346,037 |826,957      |259,755      |||
|________________|______|______________|________|_____________|_____________|||
|2026 Loan Notes3|US$m  |231           |225     |245          |246          |||
|________________|______|______________|________|_____________|_____________|||
|Bank loans and  |US$m  |66            |43      |76           |25           |||
|borrowings4     |      |              |        |             |             |||
|________________|______|______________|________|_____________|_____________|||
|Consolidated Net|US$m  |258           |215     |273          |193          |||
|Debt5           |      |              |        |             |             |||
|________________|______|______________|________|_____________|_____________|||
|Bank facilities |      |              |        |             |             |||
|undrawn and     |US$m  |30            |50      |26           |72           |||
|available4      |      |              |        |             |             |||
|________________|______|______________|________|_____________|_____________|||

 

Note: The following exchange rates have been used for this announcement: average for 9M FY 2025 US$1: ZAR18.12 (H1 FY 2025 US$1: ZAR17.93; 3M FY 2025: US$1: ZAR17.96; FY 2024: US$1: ZAR18.71); closing rate as at 31 March 2025 US$1: ZAR18.30 (31 December 2024 US$1: ZAR18.85; 30 September 2024: ZAR17.26 and 30 June 2024: ZAR18.19).

 

Notes: 

  1. The Group’s cash balances excluding Williamson comprise unrestricted
     balances of US$18 million, and restricted balances of US$18 million.
  2. Recorded at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
  3. The 2026 Loan Notes, originally issued following the capital restructuring
     (the “Restructuring”) completed during March 2021, have a carrying value of
     US$231 million which represents the outstanding principal amount of US$186
     million (after the repurchases concluded during H1 FY 2025) plus US$48
     million of accrued interest and is stated net of unamortised transaction
     costs capitalised of US$3 million. During H1 FY 2025, Petra purchased and
     cancelled 2026 Loan Notes with a nominal value of US$24 million through an
     open market repurchase programme.
  4. Bank loans and borrowings represent the Group’s ZAR1.75 billion (US$96
     million) revolving credit facility (RCF). In August and September 2024, the
     Group drew down ZAR855 million (c. US$48 million) from the RCF as a result
     of the deferral of South African goods from Tender 1 FY 2025. ZAR500
     million (c. US$28 million) was repaid during November and December 2024. In
     January 2025, the Group drew down a further ZAR400 million (US$22 million)
     from the RCF for working capital requirements. As at 31 March 2025, a total
     of ZAR1.205 billion (US$66 million) was drawn leaving a further balance of
     ZAR545 million (US$30 million) available for drawdown.
  5. Consolidated Net Debt is bank loans and borrowings plus loan notes, less
     cash and diamond debtors.

 

Mine-by-mine tables:

 

Cullinan Mine – South Africa 


                  Three months                          Nine months YTD
           Unit
                  Q3 FY 2025 Q2 FY 2025 Var. Q3 FY 2024 FY 2025   FY 2024   Var.

Sales

Revenue    US$m   22.7       69.0       -67% 31.9       100.2     128.5     -22%

Diamonds   Carats 294,592    640,050    -54% 233,460    934,661   1,098,689 -15%
sold

Average
price per  US$    77         108        -29% 137        107       117       -8%
carat

ROM
Production

Tonnes     Tonnes 1,000,455  1,107,787  -10% 1,164,009  3,197,812 3,379,853 -5%
treated

Diamonds   Carats 294,220    331,079    -11% 319,490    939,425   969,100   -3%
produced

Grade1     Cpht   29.4       29.9       -2%  27.4       29.4      28.7      +2%

Tailings
Production

Tonnes     Tonnes 124,703    110,625    +13% 75,100     333,330   262,343   +27%
treated

Diamonds   Carats 45,920     65,143     -30% 22,227     159,920   102,863   +55%
produced

Grade1     Cpht   36.8       58.9       -37% 29.6       48.0      39.2      +22%

Total
Production

Tonnes     Tonnes 1,125,158  1,218,412  -8%  1,239,109  3,531,142 3,642,196 -3%
treated

Diamonds   Carats 340,140    396,222    -14% 341,717    1,099,345 1,071,963 +3%
produced

 

Note: 1. Petra is not able to precisely measure the ROM / tailings grade split because ore from both sources is processed through the same plant; the Company therefore back-calculates the grade with reference to resource grades.

 

Finsch – South Africa 


                  Three months                          Nine months YTD
           Unit
                  Q3 FY 2025 Q2 FY 2025 Var. Q3 FY 2024 FY 2025   FY 2024   Var.

Sales

Revenue    US$m   18.9       36.9       -49% 15.9       55.8      82.9      -33%

Diamonds   Carats 264,059    473,314    -44% 152,984    737,373   827,088   -11%
sold

Average
price per  US$    72         78         -8%  104        76        100       -24%
carat

ROM
Production

Tonnes     Tonnes 585,383    532,849    +10% 470,706    1,595,499 1,650,718 -3%
treated

Diamonds   Carats 269,656    236,222    +14% 242,543    710,116   779,249   -9%
produced

Grade      Cpht   46.1       44.3       +4%  51.5       44.5      47.2      -6%

 

Williamson – Tanzania 


                  Three months                          Nine months YTD
           Unit
                  Q3 FY 2025 Q2 FY 2025 Var. Q3 FY 2024 FY 2025   FY 2024   Var.

Sales

Revenue    US$m   15.7       17.8       -12% 17.9       47.5      42.2      +13%

Diamonds   Carats 93,441     102,151    -9%  90,285     281,022   210,574   +33%
sold

Average
price per  US$    168        174        -4%  198        169       200       -16%
carat

ROM
Production

Tonnes     Tonnes 1,228,755  1,201,668  +2%  1,216,754  3,976,231 3,413,794 +16%
treated

Diamonds   Carats 80,834     88,469     -9%  81,317     281,706   241,905   +16%
produced

Grade1     Cpht   6.6        7.4        -11% 6.7        7.1       7.1       -

Notes: 

  1. The following definitions have been used in this announcement:


  a. cpht: carats per hundred tonnes
  b. LTIs: lost time injuries
  c. LTIFR: lost time injury frequency rate, calculated as the number of LTIs
     multiplied by 200,000 and divided by the number of hours worked
  d. FY: financial year ending 30 June
  e. CY: calendar year ending 31 December
  f. H: half of the financial year
  g. ROM: run-of-mine (i.e. production from the primary orebody)
  h. m: million
  i. Mt: million tonnes
  j. Mcts: million carats
  k. ktcs: thousand carats

  




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