Petra Diamonds Statement re allegations at Williamson Mine

 
TIDMPDL 
 
9 September 2020                                                             LSE: PDL 
 
                            Petra Diamonds Limited 
 
                          ("Petra" or the "Company") 
 
            Statement regarding allegations of human rights abuses 
 
                      at the Williamson Mine in Tanzania 
 
Petra Diamonds Limited states that a UK-based law firm, Leigh Day, has filed 
claims in the High Court of England and Wales against Petra and Williamson 
Diamonds Limited ("WDL"), the operator of the Williamson diamond mine in 
Tanzania that is owned 75% by Petra and 25% by the Government of Tanzania. The 
claims are understood to have been filed on behalf of 32 anonymous 
individuals in relation to alleged breaches of human rights at the Williamson 
mine. The claims are understood to allege that Petra and WDL are liable for 
human rights violations, personal injuries and deaths suffered by these 
anonymous individuals at and surrounding the mine, arising from the mine's 
security operations. 
 
To date, the claims filed by Leigh Day have not been served on either Petra or 
WDL. In its letter before claim, Leigh Day has expressed an interest in 
alternative dispute resolution methods, including mediation. 
 
Additionally, Petra has very recently received a letter from the UK-based 
Non-Governmental Organisation RAID regarding similar allegations raised by 
local residents and others relating to actions by WDL, its security contractor 
and others linked to WDL. Petra will cooperate with RAID in order to understand 
fully the nature of its concerns. 
 
Petra takes these allegations extremely seriously.  WDL, as the operator of the 
mine and owner of the mining concession, is carrying out an investigation, as 
fully and timeously as possible given the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 
pandemic, supported by an independent, specialist consultant.  Petra is 
initiating its own independent investigation, through a separate specialist 
third party, reporting to the Petra Board. Responses will be provided to the 
claimants' lawyers in accordance with the relevant pre-action procedures of the 
English court, as well as to RAID. 
 
Petra has previously disclosed that there has been ongoing illegal artisanal 
mining taking place at Williamson over a period of time, due to the challenges 
in securing the large perimeter of the Special Mining Licence area, which 
covers 30.6km2 including the main 146 hectare orebody, together with alluvial 
resources.  This illegal mining activity is managed by WDL and the local 
government authorities on an ongoing basis. 
 
Petra operates in accordance with the Company's Human Rights Policy and its 
Code of Ethical Conduct (both of which can be found on the Group's website at: 
https://www.petradiamonds.com/about-us/corporate-governance/business-ethics/), 
and the Company actively encourages the reporting of violations of these 
policies either through direct reporting at any of its offices or operations, 
or through the Deloitte Tip-Off Anonymous whistle blowing hotline. Both Petra 
and WDL are guided by, and seek to comply with, the Voluntary Principles on 
Security and Human Rights. 
 
For further information, please contact: 
 
Petra Diamonds, London      Telephone: [phone] 
 
Cathy Malins                [e-mail] 
 
About Petra Diamonds Limited 
 
Petra Diamonds is a leading independent diamond mining group and a consistent 
supplier of gem quality rough diamonds to the international market. The Company 
has a diversified portfolio incorporating interests in three underground 
producing mines in South Africa (Finsch, Cullinan and Koffiefontein) and one 
open pit producing mine in Tanzania (Williamson). 
 
Petra's strategy is to focus on value rather than volume production by 
optimising recoveries from its high-quality asset base in order to maximise 
their efficiency and profitability. The Group has a significant resource base 
of ca. 250 million carats, which supports the potential for long-life 
operations. 
 
Petra conducts all operations according to the highest ethical standards and 
will only operate in countries which are members of the Kimberley Process. The 
Company aims to generate tangible value for each of its stakeholders, thereby 
contributing to the socio-economic development of its host countries and 
supporting long-term sustainable operations to the benefit of its employees, 
partners and communities. 
 
Petra is quoted with a premium listing on the Main Market of the London Stock 
Exchange under the ticker 'PDL' and is a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index. 
The Company's US$650 million loan notes due in 2022 are listed on the Global 
Exchange market of the Irish Stock Exchange. For more information, visit 
www.petradiamonds.com. 
 
 
 
END 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 09, 2020 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)