Shares Issued and Outstanding: 72,628,973
TSX: MPV
NYSE AMEX: MDM
TORONTO AND NEW YORK, Oct. 21 /CNW/ - Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.
("Mountain Province", the "Company") (TSX: MPV, NYSE AMEX: MDM) today
announced the results of an independent feasibility study dated October
15, 2010, on the Gahcho Kué diamond project located in Canada's
Northwest Territories. JDS Energy and Mining Inc. ("JDS") led and
prepared the feasibility study, which has been presented to the Gahcho
Kué Joint Venture (JV) between Mountain Province (49%) and De Beers
Canada Inc. ("De Beers") (51%) (collectively, the "Partners").
Financial and Project Highlights:
-
Project IRR including sunk costs
-
Project IRR excluding sunk costs
-
Initial project capital
-
Working capital
-
Sustaining capital including mine closure
-
Operating costs
-
Project mine life
-
Average annual production
-
Total diamond production
-
Average annual diamond production
-
Diamond price
|
20.7%*
33.9%
C$549.5M
C$49.4M
C$36.1M
C$48.68 per tonne
11 years
3 million tonnes
49 million carats
4.45 million carats
US$102.48 per carat**
|
*After taxes/royalties and unleveraged
**The base case model uses an average realized diamond price of
US$102.48 per carat derived from the mean average between the modeled
values of De Beers and WWW International Diamond Consultants (based on
their respective April 2010 price books) inclusive of a real 1%
escalation over LOM less an assumed 4% marketing fee.
Gahcho Kué Mineral Reserve Report
Mountain Province today also announced a new Mineral Reserve estimate
for the Gahcho Kué Project. The Mineral Reserve is the Indicated
Resource contained in the proposed open pit mine that can be mined and
processed profitably and is scheduled for treatment in the feasibility
study life of mine plan. The Gahcho Kué Mineral Reserve estimate is
summarized in Table 1 below.
Table 1
Gahcho Kué Mineral Reserve Estimate
| Pipe | Classification | Tonnes (Mt) | Grade (carats per tonne) | Carats (Mct) |
|
5034
|
Probable
|
13.2
|
1.77
|
23.3
|
|
Hearne
|
Probable
|
5.4
|
2.10
|
11.5
|
|
Tuzo
|
Probable
|
12.6
|
1.13
|
14.2
|
| Total | Probable | 31.3 | 1.57 | 49.0 |
Commenting, Mountain Province CEO Patrick Evans said: "The feasibility
study delivers an economically viable, technically credible and
environmentally sound development plan for the Gahcho Kué project.
Also, the IRR exceeds the minimum 15% required under the Joint Venture
agreement to support a decision to develop. Our focus now shifts to
completion of the Gahcho Kué environmental impact assessment, which
will be filed with the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Review Board
prior to the end of the year."
The full 43-101 feasibility study will be filed on SEDAR, EDGAR and the
Company's website shortly.
Qualified Person
The feasibility study was prepared by an integrated independent
engineering team led by JDS Energy and Mining. Mr. Daniel Johnson, P.
Eng has reviewed and approved the contents of this release.
Located in Canada's Northwest Territories, Gahcho Kué is one of the
largest new diamond projects under development globally. The project
consists of a cluster of kimberlites, three of which have a probable
mineral reserve of 31.3 million tonnes grading 1.57 carats per tonne
for total diamond content of 49 million carats.
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release may contain forward-looking statements, within the
meaning of the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the Company's business or
financial condition. Actual results could differ materially from those
described in this news release as a result of numerous factors, some of
which are outside the control of the Company.
Going Concern
The Company confirms that its audit report and amended financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, and filed in early
April 2010, included a going concern qualification in the typical form.
%CIK: 0001004530
<p>Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.</p> <p>Patrick Evans, President and CEO<br/> Phone: (416) 670-5114</p> <p><a href="http://www.mountainprovince.com">www.mountainprovince.com</a><br/> E-mail: <a href="mailto:info@mountainprovince.com" cr="true">info@mountainprovince.com</a></p>