The Government of Western Australia is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from mining companies to reopen the Ellendale diamond mine in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.
Located just 120 kilometres east of Derby, Ellendale was mined between 2002 and 2015 and still contains marketable diamonds. In the past, the mine produced gem and industrial-quality diamonds and provided about half of the world’s highly valued yellow diamonds. Additionally, US jeweller Tiffany & Co formed a major client for the project.
The mining tenements were held by Kimberley Diamond Company NL, but mining activities ceased in July 2015 when the company entered into administration. Later that month, creditors voted for the company to be placed into liquidation. Since then, The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) managed the site through the Abandoned Mines Program and commenced a range of activities within the Ellendale area to minimise the environmental, safety and health risks at the site.
Submissions for the mine will be evaluated by a panel of experts at the DMIRS before being presented to Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston. Following this, the Minister is to select the successful candidate after considering all the EOIs.
“We are looking for a company that will bring fresh eyes and a new approach to Ellendale,” announced Mr Johnston, over the weekend, “I expect the successful company will have experience in diamond mining and marketing, they’ll understand WA’s regulatory requirements and be able to fund the new operation.”
The State Government said the reopening of Ellendale mine and the operating phase of the project is set to create numerous jobs for Western Australians. Submissions close on Friday, November 30, and it is expected the successful company will be announced in early 2019.
More information on submission guidelines and other project information can be accessed here.
