Luanda: The Lulo alluvial diamond venture in Angola has declared US$8 million in a combined distribution and capital repayment, and Lucapa Diamond - as operator and funder of both the Lulo alluvial mining and kimberlite exploration programs – will be entitled to receive a gross amount of US$5.6 million (A$7.3 million), the company writes in an ASX statement.
Under the terms of the alluvial mining investment agreements with its project partners - Angola’s national diamond company Endiama and Rosas & Petalas - Lucapa is entitled to the first 50% of the $8 million total to start the repayment of its eight-year investment in exploration and the development of the Lulo alluvial mining operations. This capital investment is currently recorded in Lucapa Diamond’s unaudited accounts at a net present value of $33 million.
In addition to the capital repayment, Lucapa Diamond is entitled to a gross $1.6 million (A$2.1 million) from its pro-rata 40% equity interest in the remaining $4 million being distributed to the Lulo partners. The $8 million in distribution and capital repayment was declared from the significant cash balance held by Lulo on the back of its strong operational performance announced on 23 January this year.
Lucapa Diamond MD Stephen Wetherall said, “This meets one of our primary objectives in developing the Lulo alluvial mining operations, which was to generate free cash flow sufficient to generate returns for the partners and to repay Lucapa Diamond's significant capital investment in the project. This in turn would also provide Lucapa Diamond with a source of funding for our exciting Lulo kimberlite exploration program." He adds, “The distribution and capital repayment declared will, on repatriation, also provide a potential source of funding for the high-quality, advanced Mothae kimberlite project in Lesotho, which we plan to have in production generating its own cash flows within 12 months of completion of the acquisition.”
