Gahcho Ku?(C) Production Set to Rise

RAPAPORT... Production at the Gahcho Ku?(C) mine is likely to exceedexpectations for 2018 before increasing steadily over the next three years, accordingto part owner Mountain Province. The company is confident total output at the Canada asset willbe above its upper forecast of 6.6 million carats this year, it said Tuesday.It will then rise to a range of 6.6 million to 6.9 million carats in each of2019 and 2020, followed by 6.8 million to 7.1 million carats in 2021. "Our business plan demonstrates the quality of our coreasset and the excellent work that the operations team has carried out over thepast year, both in exceeding the targets for the current year, and building astronger longer-term business plan that should extend the life of mine beyond[the current plan of] 2028," said Mountain Province CEO Stuart Brown. Gahcho Ku?(C), a joint venture between Mountain Province and DeBeers, came on stream in late 2016. Production was 5.9 million carats in 2017,the first full year of operations. The asset yielded 5.4 million carats in thefirst nine months of 2018, a 25% increase versus the same period of 2017. Image: Trucks at Gahcho Ku?(C). (Mountain Province)