YELLOWKNIFE, May 4 /CNW/ - By March 31, Diavik's successful ice road
program was virtually complete. The resupply program was very successful due
in part to a seasonably cold winter, and by final road closure on April 7,
Diavik had shipped a record 4,573 loads to the mine site. Combined, all users
shipped 10,922 loads and backhauled 818 loads. Total loads and total weight
were record amounts.
Mining of the A154South pipe during the quarter produced approximately
2.585 million carats of diamonds. Crews continued to remove overburden and
waste rock to expose the A418 pipe for open pit mining near the end of this
year. For the underground mining feasibility study, the face of the A154
tunnel had reached approximately 1.9 kilometres from surface, with over
1190 metres completed around the A418 pipe. Approximately 200 metres more
development remains for the underground feasibility study. In a separate
underground decline approximately 1.2 kilometres in length, works crews began
mining a bulk sample from the A21 pipe for diamond valuation.
Two lost time injuries and four medical treatment cases were reported
during the quarter for an All Incident Frequency Rate (AIFR) of 1.61 and a
Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) of. 0.54. Diavik has set an AIFR
target of 0.93 and a LTIFR target of 0.42 for 2007. Rates are industry
standards based on the rate of occurrence per 200,000 hours worked.
At December 31, 2006, Diavik's ore reserve contained in the A154 North,
South, and A418 pipes was 24.5 million tonnes grading 3.3 carats per tonne for
81.7 million carats contained. Diavik has produced 32.1 million carats since
production began in January 2003. Diavik continues to use a variety of
exploration methods to explore its large claim block in search of new diamond
targets. One new kimberlite pipe was discovered, bringing the total number of
Diavik kimberlite bodies to 68.
Diavik's total operations workforce averaged 760 during the quarter, of
which 505 (66%) were northern; and approximately half of these Aboriginal.
Investing in local training efforts continued with 11 northerners completing
Diavik's second Aboriginal Leadership Development Training program. In other
training, four northern trainees continued their underground miner training, a
training partnership led by Diavik's mining development contractor, Kitikmeot
Cementation Mining & Development. Diavik continues its apprenticeship support
with 21 northerner apprentices working at the mine, all northern and two
thirds Aboriginal.
Under the water licence renewal process, Diavik completed and submitted a
revised aquatic effects monitoring plan to the regulatory board. Revision of
the ammonia management plan is underway. Diavik continues to operate in
environmental compliance.
The Diavik Diamond Mine, located 300 km. northeast of Yellowknife,
Northwest Territories, is an unincorporated joint venture between DDMI (60%)
and Aber Diamond Limited Partnership (40%). Both companies are headquartered
in Yellowknife, Canada. DDMI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto plc of
London, England, and Aber Diamond Limited Partnership is wholly owned by Aber
Diamond Corporation of Toronto, Ontario. DDMI is the operator of the project.
For further information: Tom Hoefer, Manager of External & Internal
Affairs at Tel: (867) 669-6500, or visit the DDMI website at www.diavik.ca
