World’s largest new diamond mine opens
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The world’s largest new diamond mine to open in 13 years, Gahcho Kué, was officially unveiled yesterday (Tuesday, 20 September).
The mine, a joint venture venture with the De Beers Group of Companies (51%) and Mountain Province Diamonds (49%), is expected to product around 54 million carats of rough diamonds over its lifetime.
It is situated around 280km northeast of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories of Canada and remains on track to reach full commercial operation in the first quarter of 2017. More than 90% Gahcho Kué’s economic impact will be delivered once the mine is fully operational.
Comprised of three open pits, the mine will employ 530 people full-time with the majority working a two week in and two week out rotation.
Bruce Cleaver, CEO at De Beers, said: “As millions of new consumers enter the middle classes in the coming years, consumer demand for diamond jewellery is set to see continued medium to long term growth.
“I’m therefore delighted with the official opening of Gahcho Kué, our largest ever mine outside of southern Africa, as it will help to meet this increasing demand.”
Canada is the world’s third largest diamond producer by value and the fifth largest by volume.
