Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine Reaching Full Commercial Production
February 22, 17
(IDEX Online) – The Gahcho Kue diamond mine in Canada's Northwest Territories, owned by De Beers Canada and Mountain Province Diamonds, is set to reach full commercial production over the next six weeks.
First diamond production at the Arctic mine, the world's largest and highest grade new diamond mine, began last year and has been gradually increasing. Annual average production is forecast to be 4.5 million carats over the expected 13-year life of the mine. De Beers owns 51 percent of the project, with the rest held by Mountain Province.
Extremely cold weather in December had caused "teething troubles", but the project was on track, De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver told Reuters.
Meanwhile, Mountain Province Diamonds CEO Patrick Evans said the project had slipped about a month behind schedule, but should achieve commercial production over the next six weeks.