Diavik Diamond Mine will be able to sustain its productivity for the next four years after they opened a new pipe earlier this week.
At a ceremony on Monday, attended by government and indigenous leaders, stakeholders and Rio Tinto employees, the pipe, titled A21, was officially opened.
Minister of Infrastructure, Wally Schumann, left and Patrick Boitumelo, President of Rio Tinto cut the ribbon to open the A21 pipe at the Diavik Diamond Mine
The pipe which cost the mine close $450 Million USD and took close to four years to construct will sustain production levels at the mine until 2023.
“To date, over 100 million carats have been produced from this mine, which has meant the creation of thousands of northern jobs, and the development of supporting industries and businesses that have strengthened and shared the NWT economy,” stated Wally Schumann, Investment Minister with the Government of the NWT in prepared statements at the opening.
Rio Tinto is the majority stakeholder for Diavik Diamond Mines. The mine is located in the Lac De Gras area approximately 300 km north-east of Yellowknife.