YELLOWKNIFE, Feb. 2 /CNW/ - Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. (DDMI), operator of
the Diavik Diamond Mine is pleased to report its results for the year ending
December 31, 2006.
Despite the shorter ice road shipping season in early 2006, Diavik
maintained operations and construction commitments as planned. Fourth quarter
diamond production reached 2.5 million carats, largely due to higher grade ore
from the A154 South kimberlite pipe, and brought rough diamond production for
2006 to 9.8 million carats.
Diavik's workforce achieved an outstanding safety record, made more
significant in light of the additional work to construct the second dike and
begin underground feasibility studies. Diavik's 2006 All Incident Frequency
Rate (AIFR) improved by 30% to 1.05 exceeding the year target of 1.22 (AIFR is
an industry standard calculated on number of medical treatments and lost time
injuries per 200,000 hours worked).
Diavik's operations workforce averaged 748 during the quarter, of which
67 per cent were northern, with approximately half of these Aboriginal.
Currently, Diavik is training 20 northern residents as apprentice trades
workers, 16 of whom are Aboriginal. Eight Diavik apprentices achieved
journeyman designations bringing the total number of apprentices to achieve
this milestone while at Diavik to ten. Diavik graduated 11 candidates from its
second Aboriginal Leadership Development training program in December. Seven
Aboriginal and Inuit underground miners continue to train under the mining
development contractor.
Construction of Diavik's second rockfill dike around the A418 pipe was
virtually completed, allowing dewatering to be completed as planned.
Pre-stripping of overburden to prepare for open pit mining is now underway,
and crews expect to access the A418 ore body near year end.
Crews continue to advance the tunnel - or decline - to access the A154
South and North ore bodies as part of underground mining feasibility studies.
Earlier in the quarter, they reached and began underground test mining of the
A418 ore body. A separate exploration decline has reached the A21 pipe and
preparations are underway to remove a bulk sample for diamond valuation.
Diavik continues to remain in compliance with all environmental permits,
licences and authorizations. In November, Diavik participated in public
hearings under the new Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board to review its water
licence renewal application. Subsequently, the Board established a work plan
to finalize Diavik's Aquatic Effects Monitoring and its Ammonia Management
Plans, in time to renew Diavik's existing licence in August 2007.
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 the global mining
group Rio Tinto plc of London, 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
