The De Beers Group of Companies (51%) and Mountain Province Diamonds (49%) announced that the Gahcho Kué Mine has been commissioned. 

“The project remains on track to reach full commercial operation in the first quarter of 2017,” De Beers said in a press note.

The process began when the first ore was exposed on 23 March 2016; thereafter, in the “commissioning phase”, ore was fed into the Processing Facility from the Gahcho Kué pit on 20 June 2016; and the first commissioning carats were recovered on 30 June 2016, the Company said. “The mining operation has, to date, pre-stripped in excess of 20 million tonnes of waste material during the capital phase thereby ensuring sufficient exposed ore for production ramp-up,” De Beers announced.

Calling it “the largest new diamond mine under construction anywhere in the world” De Beers said that Gahcho Kué is expected to produce an average of 4.5 million carats per annum over the life of the mine.

Kim Truter, Chief Executive Officer, De Beers Canada, said: “Gahcho Kué will not only strengthen De Beers in Canada, but ensure Canada remains the third leading diamond producer, by value, in the world. We are excited to see this project move into the production phase and must congratulate our Gahcho Kué team and thank our community partners for helping us deliver this world-class mine.”