Lucara aims to process 2.5 million tonnes of diamond ore

The company expects to spend about eight million US dollars on exploration work to be conducted on its two prospecting licences awarded in 2014.

Operating cash costs are expected to be between 33 and 36 dollars per tonne treated as compared to 2014 forecast of $31-$33 per tonne. In a statement released yesterday, Lucara President and Chief Executive, William Lamb said the forecast increase in operating cash costs is due to higher forecast operating costs resulting from the change to the process plant facilities to improve large diamond recovery; processing of harder material from the south lobe; a forecast increase in tonnes of waste mined in 2015 and an increase in forecast power costs in Botswana.