Sharenet Sites 
Sharenet Sites
Artisanal miner incursion at Montepuez
GEMFIELDS GROUP LIMITED
(Incorporated in Guernsey)
(Guernsey registration Number: 47656)
(South African external company registration number 2009/012636/10)
Share code on the BSX: GML.BH ISIN: GG00BG0KTL52
Share code on the JSE: GML LEI: 21380017GAVXTCYS5R31
("Gemfields" or the "Company")
Artisanal miner incursion at Montepuez
The Company announces that the “Maninge Nice 3” mining pit belonging to Montepuez Ruby Mining Limitada
(“MRM”, in which Gemfields holds a 75% interest) has experienced a coordinated incursion by approximately 800
artisanal miners, vastly outnumbering the MRM security personnel and Mozambican police present at that location
at the time. These artisanal miners were seeking ruby-bearing gravels and, despite repeated warnings from MRM
personnel, commenced undercutting the outer edge of the mining pit. This led to several ground collapse incidents
in which 11 artisanal miners died. MRM personnel provided humanitarian assistance where possible.
In addition to notifying the authorities, Gemfields invited members of the Mozambican press and media to visit MRM
and its surrounding villages to provide first-hand coverage of the activity and to report on the strikingly coordinated
nature of the influx and its possible causes. In a subsequent press conference held by the Inspector General of the
Ministry of Minerals, Resources and Energy (MIREM), the involvement of organised networks in ruby smuggling was
noted. Mozambican newspaper articles have since cited artisanal miners who claim to have made payments to
factions within the Mozambican police in order to gain access to MRM.
Greater presence of the media and of Mozambican authorities at the mine and in surrounding areas and villages has
resulted in MRM’s mining pits, including Maninge Nice 3, presently being clear of artisanal miners and as such day-
to-day operations remain unaffected.
The Company continues to work closely with Mozambican authorities to raise awareness among local communities
of the dangers of artisanal mining and to assist in tackling ruby smuggling and reduce the risk to, and exploitation of,
vulnerable groups by well-organised syndicates.
MRM has a series of different mining pits which are variously activated depending on operating conditions and the
ore types required. MRM has not been mining Maninge Nice 3 for some months. The pit, which generally contains
smaller, flatter, pink-coloured rubies of lower value, accounts for less than 10% of the total ruby value sold by MRM
to date.
More information about the functioning of ruby smuggling networks and prior instances of illegal mining can be
found at www.gemfieldsgroup.com (including in the statement dated 3 May 2019).
Additional information on Gemfields
Gemfields is a world leading supplier of responsibly sourced 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
licenses 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, advancing the wider
group’s “mine and market” vision.
Gemfields has developed a proprietary grading system and a pioneering auction and trading platform to provide a
consistent supply of coloured gemstones to downstream markets, a key component of Gemfields’ business model
and has played an important role in the growth of the global coloured gemstone sector.
Further information on Gemfields Group Limited can be found at www.gemfieldsgroup.com
To join our press release mailing list, click here: gemfields@gemfields.com
For any press enquiries please contact us on investor.relations@gemfields.com
London
13 February 2020
JSE Sponsor:
Investec Bank Limited
Date: 13-02-2020 03:45:00
Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE').
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct,
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
information disseminated through SENS.
