Construction of the Gahcho Kué project, the world’s largest diamond mine currently under construction, located in Canada’s Northwest Territories, was 62% complete at the end of May, project developer Mountain Province Diamonds reported last week.
The Gahcho Kué Joint Venture (JV) is a collaboration between De Beers Canada (51%) and Mountain Province Diamonds (49%), with De Beers being the operator.
Construction is reported to be progressing according to plan and within budget. Construction activities focus on continued dewatering to expose the kimberlite pipes, placing concrete foundations and erecting steel superstructures for all major facilities. A key milestone is to ensure that the process plant building is enclosed by October, before the onslaught of the harsh Canadian winter.
“We’re on track for first production [in the second half of] 2016 and are currently making arrangements to be in a position to receive and sell our 49% share of diamond production. These arrangements are expected to be in place by the end of 2015,” Mountain Province president and CEO Patrick Evans comments.
The project currently employs 500 employees and contractors on site and this number is expected to peak at about 650 during the third quarter.
During normal operation, there would be about 400 employees at Gahcho Kué.
De Beers Canada has maintained a strong focus on a robust safety record, having achieved 15 consecutive months without a lost-time injury.