De Beers starts production at world’s largest new diamond mine
Gahcho Kué, the world’s largest new diamond mine in the last 13 years, has officially begun commercial production.
The mine, a joint venture with De Beers Group (51%) and Mountain Province Diamonds (49%), is expected to produce approximately 54 million carats of rough diamonds over its lifetime.
Production ramp up began on 1 August 2016 and the official opening ceremony took place on 20 September 2016, with 200 guests in attendance from across Canada and around the world.
Bruce Cleaver, CEO, De Beers Group, said: “Today marks a significant landmark for De Beers in Canada as Gahcho Kué becomes an important contributor to the group’s global production. That the mine has reached this landmark, on budget and ahead of schedule, is testament to the partnerships that have worked together since construction began.”
The fly-in/fly-out remote mine site is situated approximately 280km northeast of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories (NWT) of Canada. Comprising three open pits, the mine will employ 530 people full-time, with the majority working a two-week in and two-week out rotation.
