27 May 2016
(Yellowknife, NT – May 27, 2016) Environmental approval of the Ekati Mine Jay Pipe project is welcome, and is helping ensure one of the largest contributors to the NWT economy can add another 10 plus years of value to the NWT.
On May 19, the NWT Government’s (GNWT) Minister of Lands, the Honourable Robert C. McLeod accepted the recommendations of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board that the Jay Project be approved, subject to the measures described in the Report of Environmental Assessment. The approval now allows Dominion Diamond to prepare to file water licence and land use permit applications, beginning the final step in the environmental approval of the Jay project.
Gary Vivian, President of the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines stated, “We are very pleased that the Review Board and the Minister have approved the project to proceed to permitting. It helps add to the certainty we need to attract future mining investments. I know we are all hopeful for a positive feasibility study to move the Jay forward.”
He further added, “Interestingly, this year marks the 25th anniversary of the diamond discoveries that would become the Ekati mine, and that would carry us to a global leadership position. I can’t think of a greater way to celebrate it than with the extension of Ekati operations by another 10 to 11 years. Many northerners will be pleased to see this approval too, for after all, the NWT is a mining jurisdiction. Increasingly, both public and Aboriginal governments are counting on revenues from the mines, and our residents are counting on continued jobs and business benefits. We are now looking forward to a positive Budget from our Legislative Assembly, one that will help us rejuvenate our exploration industry.”
The Ekati mine began operations in 1998 as Canada’s and the NWT’s first diamond mine. It is also the largest diamond mine, employing approximately 1,500 workers mining a number of separate diamond deposits. The ‘Jay’ diamond deposit is the most significant undeveloped deposit at Ekati and has the potential to extend the mine life to at least 2030. Dominion Diamond Corp. expects to publish a feasibility study on the Jay Project later this spring.
For more information on the NWT and Nunavut mining industries, please visit the website at www.miningnorth.com or contact Tom Hoefer, Executive Director at Tel: 867-873-5281 or email: executivedirector@miningnorth.com.