Rio Tinto recently opened a fourth diamond pipe, known as the A21, at the Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada. The pipe is located adjacent to Diavik’s existing mining operations at Lac de Gras (a notable Lake in Canada that was the centre of the diamond rush of the 1990s).
The new open-pit pipe will provide an important source of incremental supply over the next four years, assisting with sustaining production levels at the mine. First ore was delivered in March and the pit is expected to be at full production during the fourth quarter of 2018, following a four-year construction period and an investment of approximately $US350 million.
“This investment to sustain production levels at Diavik reflects the strong outlook we see for the diamond industry,” commented Rio Tinto Copper and Diamonds Chief Executive, Arnaud Soirat, earlier this morning, “it is a remarkable achievement to deliver this project safely and ahead of time in such a challenging environment, positioning Diavik to continue meeting the demand for its outstanding diamonds.”
Diavik Diamond Mines’ President, Mr Patrick Boitumelo said employees should take great pride in the achievement of safely bringing the A21 pipe from development to commercial production.
“This new pipe is great news for the Northwest Territories and will help to deliver economic and social benefits that will endure beyond the life of the Diavik mine,” he said.
The Diavik Diamond Mine began production in 2003 and has been an underground mining operation since 2012. The mine produces predominantly gem-quality diamonds, which are ‘destined for high-end jewellery in all major consumer markets around the world’. Presently, Rio Tinto (60 per cent) shares the project with joint venture partner Dominion Diamond Corporation (40 per cent).
More information on the project can be found here.