De Beers Cycle 3 escaped upon Covid-19!
Due to the public health restrictions on the movement of people and product in Botswana, South Africa and India, which prohibit customers from traveling and prevent the shipment of goods to customers’ international operations, De Beers Group will not hold its third Sight of 2020.
De Beers Group is enabling Sightholders to defer 100% of their Sight 3 allocations to later in the year, and will continue to seek innovative ways to meet Sightholders’ rough diamond supply needs in the coming weeks.
On the other hand, Anglo American provided an update on how it is responding operationally to the fast-evolving global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Anglo American Chief Executive, Mark Cutifani, said: "Anglo American's priorities are the safety, health and wellbeing of our people and all those who interact with our business around the world.
We also have a clear responsibility to protect the integrity of our business and assets so that we are ready to restart and ramp up any affected operations safely and as quickly as possible once permitted to do so. This approach will enable us to minimise any interruption of supply to our customers and be in a position to support what will be a vital economic recovery phase for the countries in which we operate and the global economy."
Anglo American notes the statement made by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 23 March in relation to a 21-day nationwide lockdown that took effect at midnight on Thursday 26 March, in order to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa.
In line with South African Government requirements, Anglo American is implementing all appropriate measures across its South African operations, with a focus on de-densification of the workforce, rigorous health screening, and isolation where needed. The status of various operations announced with Venetia mine to be during the lockdown period.
At Anglo American Platinum front, Mogalakwena mine and the mechanised Mototolo mine continue to operate with a reduced workforce and production, subject to further planning, as will the associated concentrator and smelter facilities, 1: Repair of the ACP plant continues, as planned; 2: Amandelbult, Modikwa (JV) and Kroondal (JV) underground mines, as well as the Mortimer and Waterfall smelters, are being placed onto care and maintenance.
At De Beers, its Venetia mine will operate with a c.75% reduced workforce. Anglo American will provide any additional guidance on its South African and other operations in its scheduled 1Q 2020 Production Report on 23 April 2020.
Key: DeBeers at Covid-19, DeBeers Cycle 3 stopped, rough sale halted
