RE: $580m to $1.3 billion worth of gem stone18 May 2026 08:48
The company has successfully transitioned from a care-and-maintenance exploration setup into an active producer, moving through distinct phases over the recent periods:
Production Ramp-Up: Following the successful commissioning of their Phase 1 processing plant—which uniquely integrated an automated optical sorter to maximize security and eliminate manual hand-sorting—the mine moved to Phase 2 open-pit mining at Cobra.
Processing Upgrades: They implemented targeted processing upgrades (including specialized double-deck vibrating screens) that successfully boosted daily processing throughput by approximately 45%, moving towards a consistent 100 \text{ tonnes} of ore per day.
Trial Auctions: Partnering with the specialist diamond and gemstone sales channel Bonas Group, the company initiated commercial trial auctions. These sales established an foundational baseline for their lower and commercial-grade rough emerald runs (initially modeling around 5.00 \text{ per carat} for baseline economics), while higher facet-grade gems hold potential to fetch drastically higher premiums.