Lucara expects profit jump
Tuesday, December 06, 2022 | 770 Views |
For this year, Lucara executives expect revenues to range between $195 to $225 million (P2.5 billion to P2.9 billion).
In a notice last week, the diamond company’s president and CEO, Eira Thomas said up to 425,000 carats were expected to be recovered next year, up from a forecast of 340,000 carats this year.
Sales in 2023 are projected to reach 415,000 carats up from a forecast of 340,000 carats this year.
In 2023, Lucara expects to spend up to $105 million (P1.4 billion) on progressing its underground mining project at Karowe. Thomas said the funds would be spent predominantly on shaft sinking activities, along with the construction of the bulk air cooler, tendering the underground development contract and underground equipment purchases.
She said the ramp-up to planned sinking rates for both the ventilation and production shaft continued.
While the political shift brings hope for change, it also places immense pressure on the new administration to deliver on its election promises in the face of serious economic challenges.On another level, newly appointed Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe’s grim assessment of the country’s finances adds urgency to the moment. The budget deficit, expected to be P8.7 billion, is now anticipated to be even higher due to underperforming diamond...