Dominion Diamond Restarts Ekati Mine Process Plant Ahead of Schedule, Canada
[Click image to enlarge]
Dominion Diamond Corporation has restarted the Ekati process plant ahead of schedule.
The Ekati process plant resumed operations at full capacity on September 21. Plant operations had been suspended since a fire that occurred at the Ekati process plant on June 23, 2016. During this time, the company implemented an active management strategy designed to mitigate the impact of the fire on production and cash flow for the current fiscal year.
As part of this strategy, the company reduced operating and capital costs by deferring mining activities at the Lynx and Pigeon open pits, while continuing to mine and stockpile higher value ore from the Misery Main open pit and Koala underground. The ore blend for the remainder of the current fiscal year is expected to be a blend of the higher value Misery Main and Koala ore of which approximately 750,000 tonnes was available in stock-pile when the plant resumed operations. The total cost of the process plant repairs is approximately US$15 million.
“We are very pleased the process plant repairs have been substantially completed ahead of schedule and below our original cost estimate. This is a testament to the outstanding skills and determined efforts of our team at Ekati. Their contributions were instrumental in the development and implementation of our active management strategy which is expected to help minimize the impact of the fire on production and cash flows for this fiscal year,” said Brendan Bell, chief executive officer at Dominion Diamond.
About Dominion Diamond
Dominion Diamond Corporation is the world’s third largest producer of rough diamonds by value. Both of its production assets are located in the low political risk environment of the Northwest Territories in Canada where the company also has its head office. The company is well capitalized and has a strong balance sheet. The company operates the Ekati Diamond Mine and also owns 40 percent of the Diavik Diamond Mine. Between the two mining operations, diamonds are currently produced from a number of separate kimberlite pipes providing a diversity of diamond supply as well as reduced operational risk. It supplies premium rough diamond assortments to the global market through its sorting and selling operations in Canada, Belgium and India.
To stop by Dominion Diamond’s website, CLICK HERE
Be in-the-know when you’re on-the-go!
FREE eNews delivery service to your email twice-weekly. With a focus on lead-driven news, our news service will help you develop new business contacts on an on-going basis.
CLICK HERE to register your email address.
Copyright © 2016 Mining Connection LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
For licensing permission, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
