DiamondBuzz
Lucapa Diamond Company Enters Administration, Seeks Buyers for Lulo Mine and Other Key Assets
Lucapa Diamond Company has entered voluntary administration and is now pursuing a dual-track process of recapitalization and potential sale. The company’s administrators, KordaMentha, will conduct an urgent review of Lucapa’s operations, which span across several diamond projects including Brooking Diamonds, Heartland Diamonds, and Australian Natural Diamonds.
Among Lucapa’s most valuable assets is its 51% stake in the high-value Lulo mine in Angola. Other key interests include the Merlin diamond project and the Brooking exploration project in Australia. Earlier, Lucapa had divested its Mothae mine in Lesotho to streamline operations amid industry headwinds and weak diamond demand.
The move into administration follows a difficult year for Lucapa, with the company reporting a net loss of $1.5 million in 2024 and a 31% drop in revenue to $54.5 million, driven by falling diamond prices. In response, the company had raised $1.9 million through a share placement and purchase plan.
Despite financial pressures, Lucapa increased its stake in the Lulo mine from 39% to 51% in March, aiming to boost returns from the project. The company is now actively seeking investors or buyers for its assets, with administrators inviting expressions of interest. Meanwhile, the Australian Securities Exchange has suspended trading of Lucapa shares, citing concerns over the company’s financial viability.
DiamondBuzz
Lesotho’s Kao Diamond Mine To Halt Operations Amid Industry Slump
The Mine’s Operator, Storm Mountain, Cited A Severe Financial Crisis Driven By A Prolonged Drop In Global Rough-diamond Prices, Rising Middle East Conflict
Lesotho’s largest diamond mine, Kao, will cease operations on June 30 and transition to care and maintenance. The mine’s operator, Storm Mountain, cited a severe financial crisis driven by a prolonged drop in global rough-diamond prices, rising Middle East conflict-related fuel costs, and stiff competition from lab-grown diamonds.
Despite a warning last October that the mine required $13 million in fresh capital to survive, the necessary investment did not materialise. According to CEO Neo Hoala, the steep market decline made continued operations unsustainable. The shutdown will impact roughly 750 workers.
The mine’s financial downturn is stark: in 2024, Storm Mountain sold 250,000 carats for $50 million—a massive drop from its $105 million revenue in 2022. Kao’s suspension reflects a broader crisis in the diamond sector, following recent insolvencies and closures at Canada’s Ekati mine and South Africa’s Ekapa and Finsch mines.
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