Federal Environment Minister David Anderson concluded that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects and that public concerns do not warrant further environmental assessment.
He did, however, make the following three recommendations:
- Diavik Diamond Mines must participate in a “management framework” that obliges it to consult with governments, aboriginal groups and non-governmental organizations;
- Diavik must monitor the impact of the project under terms decided by the consultation process; and
- Diavik must regularly update its closure plans over the life of the mine.
The project is a 60-40 joint venture between Diavik Diamond Mines and Aber, respectively. Diavik is a wholly-owned subsidiary of London-based
The project is on East Island in Lac de Gras, 300 km northeast of Yellowknife and 30 km southeast of the producing Ekati diamond mine.
Construction is expected to last three years, beginning in 2000.
The feasibility study estimates a minable reserve of 102 million carats with an average value of US$53 per carat. Total capital costs are pegged at $1.28 billion. Operating costs over the first 10 years are expected to be $85 per tonne of ore processed.
The minable reserve estimate stands at 101.5 million carats within 25.6 million tonnes of material grading 3.96 carats per tonne. The estimate includes only measured and indicated resources to a depth of 420 metres. The inferred resource, which totals 12.5 million tonnes grading 2.38 carats (or 29.8 million carats), has been excluded from the feasibility study.
Be the first to comment on "DIAMOND PAGE — Aber gets nod from environment minister"