CALGARY — De Beers Group and its joint venture partner Mountain Province Diamonds have announced the commissioning of their Gahcho Kue diamond mine in the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) after almost 20 years of development and construction.
Gahcho Kue becomes the world’s largest new diamond mine, notes a media statement. It officially began commercial production March 2 after construction was completed last September. The mine is expected to produce approximately 54 million carats of rough diamonds over its lifetime.
The fly-in/fly-out remote mine site is situated approximately 280 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife in the N.W.T. Comprising three open pits, the mine will employ 530 people full-time, with the majority working a two-week in/two-week out rotation.
Production ramp-up began on Aug. 1 and the official opening ceremony took place on Sept. 20.
Including its supply chain impacts, the statement indicates development of the mine supported more than 2,700 jobs in 2015, with employment at the site representing more than 10 per cent of total employment in the N.W.T.’s extractive industries. The partners spent approximately $1 billion to develop the mine. The project received its water licence and land use permit in 2014, allowing construction to commence.
The deposit consists of a cluster of four diamond-bearing kimberlites, three of which have a probable mineral reserve of 35.4-million tonnes grading 1.57 carats per tonne for total diamond content of 55.5-million carats. The mine is projected to produce an average of 4.5-million carats a year.
A report issued in September indicated the mine will provide a $6.7-billion boost to the Canadian economy.
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