World's largest new diamond mine ramps up to commercial production in Canada's North

Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. Aug. 3 said the commissioning of the Gahcho Kué diamond plant in Northwest Territories has been completed ahead of schedule and the ramp up to commercial production has commenced.

Gahcho Kué remains on track to achieve commercial production on schedule during the first quarter of 2017.

A joint venture between De Beers Canada (51 percent) and Mountain Province Diamonds (49 percent), Gahcho Kué is anticipated to produce 53.4 million carats of diamonds over a 12-year mine-life, according to a 2014 feasibility study.

First ore at the mine was exposed in March and introduced to the plant on June 20, with first commissioning diamonds recovered on June 30.

Mountain Province President and CEO Patrick Evans said, "Successful plant commissioning and the start of ramp-up to production at the world's largest new diamond mine is a major achievement for the Gahcho Kué joint venture and a tribute to the operating partner De Beers Canada."

Mountain Province said two gem quality "special" diamonds (greater than 10.8 carats) were recovered during the ramp-up commissioning phase - a 12.1-carat diamond recovered on July 29 and a 24.65-carat stone recovered on Aug. 1.

The first split of ramp-up diamond production between Mountain Province and De Beers is scheduled for mid-September and Mountain Province's first diamond sale is expected to take place before the end of 2016.

-SHANE LASLEY