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RNS Number : 4221R Gemfields Group Limited 27 December 2024
Incorporated in Guernsey. Guernsey registration number: 47656
South African external company registration number: 2009/012636/10
Share code on JSE:GML / AIM:GEM
ISIN: GG00BG0KTL52 | LEI: 21380017GAVXTCYS5R31
("Gemfields" or the "Group" or the "Company")
Further update regarding Mozambique unrest
LONDON, 27 DECEMBER 2024
On 24 December 2024, Gemfields made an announcement regarding incidents
occurring on 23 December 2024 and involving groups associated with illegal
ruby mining taking advantage of the prevailing political unrest in Mozambique
and setting fire, inter alia, to community buildings built by Montepuez Ruby
Mining Limitada in Mozambique ("MRM"). These incidents took place in and
around Namanhumbir, a village immediately adjacent to MRM's principal
residential infrastructure ("MRM Village").
On 24 December 2024, more than 200 persons staged an attempt to invade the MRM
Village and during their approach set fire to external structures built by MRM
and containing, inter alia, a community cash point. Security forces comprising
both the Mozambican police and military protected the MRM Village using a
staged escalation of force. Tragically, during the course of the morning, two
individuals staging the attempt on MRM Village were shot, subsequently taken
to the Montepuez district hospital and declared dead.
Given the Company's priority remains the safety and security of its personnel,
a number of people were temporarily relocated to offsite locations given the
increased risk profile. MRM maintained a sizeable presence on site of more
than 500 persons across employees, contractors and security components. The
temporarily relocated personnel began a phased return on 26 December 2024.
While MRM's operations were halted from 24 December 2024, MRM intends to
return to normal operations before the end of the year.
On the same day, in the nearby village of Wikupuri (which was constructed by
MRM), the vocational training centre built by MRM and operated by Mozambique's
Institute for Vocational Training and Labor Studies ("IFPELAC") was looted and
damaged on two occasions. The inventory looted included farming inputs
provided by MRM that were due to be distributed to over 800 local farmers to
promote sustainable livelihoods.
Gemfields and MRM wish the country and all Mozambicans peace and prosperity
and are committed to making every effort within their means to further those
goals.
The Company continues to closely monitor the evolving situation and will
provide further updates as necessary.
-ENDS-
Further information on Gemfields Group Limited can be found at:
GEMFIELDSGROUP.COM (http://WWW.GEMFIELDSGROUP.COM)
To join our investor mailing list, please contact us on:
ir@gemfields.com (mailto:ir@gemfields.com)
For any press enquiries, please contact Helena and Albertina:
helena.choudhury@gemfields.com (mailto:helena.choudhury@gemfields.com) /
albertina.namburete@gemfields.com (mailto:albertina.namburete@gemfields.com)
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of
the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014 which forms part of domestic UK
law pursuant to the European Union (withdrawal) act 2018 ("MAR").
ENQUIRIES
GEMFIELDS Sean Gilbertson / David Lovett / Ian Hughes
ir@gemfields.com (mailto:ir@gemfields.com)
T: +44(0) 20 7518 3400
SPONSOR (JSE) Investec Bank Limited
NOMINATED ADVISER Panmure Liberum
(AIM) & BROKER
Scott Mathieson / Kieron Hodgson / Amrit Mahbubani / John More
T: +44(0) 20 3100 2222
GEMFIELDS HEAD OFFICE PR, LONDON Helena Choudhury / Albertina Namburete
helena.choudhury@gemfields.com (mailto:helena.choudhury@gemfields.com) /
albertina.namburete@gemfields.com (mailto:albertina.namburete@gemfields.com)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON GEMFIELDS
Gemfields is a world-leading responsible miner and marketer of coloured
gemstones. Gemfields is the operator and 75% owner of both the Kagem emerald
mine in Zambia (believed to be the world's single largest producing emerald
mine) and the Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique (one of the most significant
recently discovered ruby deposits in the world). In addition, Gemfields also
holds controlling interests in various other gemstone mining and prospecting
licences in Zambia, Mozambique, Ethiopia and Madagascar.
Gemfields' outright ownership of Fabergé - an iconic and prestigious brand of
exceptional heritage - enables Gemfields to optimise positioning, perception
and consumer awareness of coloured gemstones through Fabergé designs,
advancing the wider group's "mine and market" vision.
Gemfields has developed a proprietary grading system and a pioneering auction
platform to provide a consistent supply of coloured gemstones to downstream
markets, a key component of Gemfields' business model that has played an
important role in the growth of the global coloured gemstone sector.
GEMFIELDS
GEMFIELDS.COM (https://gemfields.com/) (https://gemfields.com/) | INVESTORS
(https://www.gemfieldsgroup.com/) (https://www.gemfieldsgroup.com/)
|FOUNDATION (https://www.gemfieldsfoundation.org/)
INSTAGRAM (https://www.instagram.com/gemfields/)
(https://www.instagram.com/gemfields/) | FACEBOOK
(https://www.facebook.com/Gemfields/) (https://www.facebook.com/Gemfields/) |
X (https://x.com/GemfieldsLtd?lang=en) | YOUTUBE
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCArCE0JFtakTP-tHq6v0KVg)
FABERGÉ
FABERGÉ.COM (https://www.faberge.com/) | INSTAGRAM
(https://www.instagram.com/officialfaberge/)
(https://www.instagram.com/officialfaberge/) | FACEBOOK
(https://www.facebook.com/OfficialFaberge)
(https://www.facebook.com/OfficialFaberge) | X (https://x.com/OfficialFaberge)
(https://x.com/OfficialFaberge) | YOUTUBE
(https://www.youtube.com/user/officialfaberge)
KAGEM MINING LINKEDIN (https://www.linkedin.com/company/kagem-mining-ltd)
MONTEPUEZ RUBY MINING LINKEDIN
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/montepuez-ruby-mining)
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