Gahcho Kue JV Signs Impact Benefit Agreement with North Slave Metis Alliance

(IDEX Online News) – De Beers has signed an Impact Benefit Agreement with the North Slave Métis Alliance – a non-profit society that represents the Aboriginal rights-bearing Métis people of the Northwest Territories – for the proposed Gahcho Kué Mine. The agreement puts a framework in place to optimize the participation of the Alliance in the Gahcho Kué Mine through employment, business opportunities, training and development and financial benefits.

"This is a good day for the North Slave Métis Alliance," said president Bill Enge. "The life of mine Impact Benefit Agreement that we signed with De Beers for the proposed Gahcho Kué diamond mine ensures the North Slave Métis people will benefit from this development. We're looking forward to working with and strengthening our relationship with De Beers.  They have a great track record of working with us with respect to their Snap Lake diamond mine and we have every reason to believe their Gahcho Kué mine track record will be matched."

The Gahcho Kué diamond mine will have a mine life of approximately 11 years. It will employ up to 700 people during construction and approximately 400 people during operations.  It will produce on average 4.5 million carats annually over its mine life. The project is a joint venture between De Beers (51 percent) and Mountain Province Diamonds (49 percent).