NEWSLucara Diamond Corp.: AK6 Project Update
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Jul 15, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX News Network) --
Lucara Diamond Corp. (TSX VENTURE:LUC) ("Lucara" or the "Company") reports that construction of the AK6 diamond mine in Botswana has been proceeding on schedule to date and is well over 60% complete at this point. However, the current industrial action in the South Africa steel industry has resulted in delays to steel deliveries for the project.
The industrial action is now in its second week and the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA) are considering the latest offer from the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (SEIFSA) over the weekend. The industrial action has, however, spread to other industries, which is impacting electrical equipment supply and transportation.
The full impact on the construction schedule will not be known until the industrial action ends. In the interim work continues on site, delivered steel is being erected and project schedule tasks re-prioritised to mitigate, as far as possible, the impacts of future delayed deliveries. The Company will issue further updates as material information becomes available.
William Lamb, President and CEO, commented, "We are obviously concerned with the events in South Africa and hope for a speedy resolution to the industrial action. We will be working closely with our EPCM partners to minimize the impact on the project schedule."
Lucara is a well positioned emerging new diamond producer. The Company has an experienced board and management team with years of diamond development expertise. The Company's two key assets are the AK6 diamond mine in Botswana and the Mothae diamond mine in Lesotho. The 100% owned AK6 project is in the construction stage with mine commissioning scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2011. The 75% owned Mothae mine is currently in the trial mining stage. Both Mothae and AK6 are world class assets with tonnage and throughput upside; diamond values from both could significantly increase with the continued recovery of Type IIA and large stones.
On Behalf of the Board,
William Lamb, President and CEO