De Beers commissions "world's largest new diamond mine"

The Gahcho Kué mine - located about 280km north east of Yellowknife in Canada’s remote Northwest Territories - is a joint venture between De Beers (51%) and Mountain Province Diamonds (49%). It will be ramped up to full commercial production by the first quarter of 2017.

Bruce Cleaver, CEO of De Beers, says: “The mine is an exceptional resource in terms of carat volume, value and its potential to create meaningful economic opportunity for the surrounding community.”

Bruce Cleaver

Gahcho Kué is an open-pit operation, mining three kimberlite pipes in sequence: 5034, Hearne and Tuzo. During construction, the workforce peaked at approximately 700. The mine will employ about 400 people during its lifetime.

Mark Cutifani, chief executive of Anglo American and chairman of De Beers, adds: “Our successful development of Gahcho Kué is testament to the technical expertise of the entire project team, the sensitive approach we take towards our surroundings and the strength of the relationship with the community local to the operation. Discovering and bringing to fruition a new source of diamonds of this quality reminds us all of the rarity value of diamonds.”