Incorporated in Guernsey. Guernsey registration number:
47656
South
African external company registration number:
2009/012636/10
Share
code on JSE:GML / AIM:GEM
ISIN: GG00BG0KTL52
| LEI: 21380017GAVXTCYS5R31
("Gemfields" or the "Group" or the "Company")
Further update regarding Mozambique
unrest
LONDON, 27 DECEMBER 2024
On 24 December 2024, Gemfields made
an announcement regarding incidents occurring on 23 December 2024
and involving groups associated with illegal ruby mining taking
advantage of the prevailing political unrest in Mozambique and
setting fire, inter alia, to community buildings built by Montepuez
Ruby Mining Limitada in Mozambique ("MRM"). These incidents took
place in and around Namanhumbir, a village immediately adjacent to
MRM's principal residential infrastructure ("MRM
Village").
On 24 December 2024, more than 200
persons staged an attempt to invade the MRM Village and during
their approach set fire to external structures built by MRM and
containing, inter alia, a community cash point. Security forces
comprising both the Mozambican police and military protected the
MRM Village using a staged escalation of force. Tragically, during
the course of the morning, two individuals staging the attempt on
MRM Village were shot, subsequently taken to the Montepuez district
hospital and declared dead.
Given the Company's priority remains
the safety and security of its personnel, a number of people were
temporarily relocated to offsite locations given the increased risk
profile. MRM maintained a sizeable presence on site of more than
500 persons across employees, contractors and security components.
The temporarily relocated personnel began a phased return on 26
December 2024. While MRM's operations were halted from 24 December
2024, MRM intends to return to normal operations before the end of
the year.
On the same day, in the nearby
village of Wikupuri (which was constructed by MRM), the vocational
training centre built by MRM and operated by Mozambique's Institute
for Vocational Training and Labor Studies ("IFPELAC") was looted
and damaged on two occasions. The inventory looted included farming
inputs provided by MRM that were due to be distributed to over 800
local farmers to promote sustainable livelihoods.
Gemfields and MRM wish the country
and all Mozambicans peace and prosperity and are committed to
making every effort within their means to further those
goals.
The Company continues to closely
monitor the evolving situation and will provide further updates as
necessary.
-ENDS-
Further
information on Gemfields Group Limited can be found at:
GEMFIELDSGROUP.COM
To join
our investor mailing list, please contact us on:
ir@gemfields.com
For any
press enquiries, please contact Helena and Albertina:
helena.choudhury@gemfields.com
/ albertina.namburete@gemfields.com
This announcement contains inside
information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse
Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014 which forms part of domestic UK law
pursuant to the European Union (withdrawal) act 2018
("MAR").
ENQUIRIES
|
GEMFIELDS
|
Sean Gilbertson / David Lovett / Ian
Hughes
ir@gemfields.com
T: +44(0) 20 7518 3400
|
|
SPONSOR (JSE)
|
Investec Bank Limited
|
|
NOMINATED ADVISER
(AIM) & BROKER
|
Panmure Liberum
Scott Mathieson / Kieron Hodgson / Amrit Mahbubani / John
More
T: +44(0)
20 3100 2222
|
|
GEMFIELDS HEAD OFFICE PR,
LONDON
|
Helena Choudhury / Albertina
Namburete
helena.choudhury@gemfields.com
/ albertina.namburete@gemfields.com
|
|
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON
GEMFIELDS
|
|
Gemfields is a world-leading
responsible miner and marketer of coloured gemstones. Gemfields is
the operator and 75% owner of both the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia
(believed to be the world's single largest producing emerald mine)
and the Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique (one of the most
significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world). In
addition, Gemfields also holds controlling interests in various
other gemstone mining and prospecting licences in Zambia,
Mozambique, Ethiopia and Madagascar.
Gemfields' outright ownership of
Fabergé - an iconic and prestigious brand of exceptional heritage -
enables Gemfields to optimise positioning, perception and consumer
awareness of coloured gemstones through Fabergé designs, advancing
the wider group's "mine and market" vision.
Gemfields has developed a
proprietary grading system and a pioneering auction platform to
provide a consistent supply of coloured gemstones to downstream
markets, a key component of Gemfields' business model that has
played an important role in the growth of the global coloured
gemstone sector.
|
GEMFIELDS
GEMFIELDS.COM
|
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KAGEM
MINING LINKEDIN
MONTEPUEZ
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