De Beers Group actions related to COVID-19 - March 23, 2020

23 March 2020

March 23, 2020: De Beers Group actions related to COVID-19

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and De Beers Group is committed to providing regular updates on how we are responding to the health and wellbeing of our employees and maintaining business continuity across our Canadian offices and operations.

We want to emphasize that we are working closely with medical experts, local government and health authorities to implement actions to protect the health and safety of employees, community and contractor partners.

The company has escalation plans to accommodate the ongoing impact of the pandemic and these will continue to be revised and improved as the situation evolves, based upon the best available advice.

Gahcho Kué and Victor sites remain open and focused on safe work. Operational continuity is critical for jobs, the communities around our operations and the local and regional economies.

At both sites, we have requested employees who live in remote, primarily fly-in communities to return to their home communities or to remain at home and not report to work for their next shift. We are making this decision to eliminate the potential spread of COVID-19 into these remote communities, which have limited medical resources.

At Victor site, now in the early stages of closure, we have prepared a contingency plan to take the site into care and maintenance as the situation requires. The decision regarding when to initiate this plan will depend on a multitude of factors, including the occurrences of COVID-19 in the region and country, as well as the availability of flights and other resources required to continue operations.

Snap Lake site remains in extended care and maintenance under zero occupancy with remote monitoring as we evaluate options for re-opening the camp for spring freshet. We are working closely with our contractor partners, including Det’on Cho Corporation, Khione, Bouwa Whee, and Frontline Medics to develop a continuity plan to ensure we can implement core site maintenance activities required for continued compliance with all licence and permit conditions. Similar to the other sites, freshet activities at Snap Lake depend on the availability of air transport and contractor availability.

The Chidliak exploration site remains unoccupied as per usual at this time of year. Travel by our employees to Nunavut has been suspended. Seasonal maintenance activities scheduled to occur in the summer are anticipated to proceed using local contractors and assistants.

The safety of all of our employees, contract employees and their families remains our top priority during this time. Regulatory compliance and environmental protection are also front of mind and will continue to be critical components of our contingency plans.

Our approach continues to be taking measures to help safeguard our people from the spread of COVID-19 while continuing day-to-day business. These actions include:

  • Regular communications with employees and contractor employees on all guidelines, restrictions and best practice hygiene and health recommendations.
  • Office-based employees are working from home in Calgary, Toronto and Timmins.
  • Introduction of new work rotations for some site-based employees, who can do much their work off site.
  • Restrictions on all new and existing work-related international travel.
  • Restrictions on non-essential visits to operating sites.
  • Intensified cleaning at offices and sites.
  • Social distancing measures at operating sites, including in team meetings, canteens and accommodation.
  • Introduction of temperature screening of those travelling to our sites from Yellowknife, Calgary and Timmins airports.

As our response evolves, De Beers Group will continue to work with local authorities to keep them informed of the steps being taken during this unprecedented crisis. These are unpredictable times and we recognize that we have to adapt quickly. As such, we continue to develop contingency plans that will always prioritize the health and wellbeing of our employees and communities.

We will continue to reach out to our stakeholders, including Indigenous parties and local, regional and federal governments to ensure we have incorporated all perspectives and the best possible information into our plans. We thank you for your continued support of our operations and wish you and your families the best of health and safety.

March 23, 2020: De Beers Group actions related to COVID-19

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and De Beers Group is committed to providing regular updates on how we are responding to the health and wellbeing of our employees and maintaining business continuity across our Canadian offices and operations.

We want to emphasize that we are working closely with medical experts, local government and health authorities to implement actions to protect the health and safety of employees, community and contractor partners.

The company has escalation plans to accommodate the ongoing impact of the pandemic and these will continue to be revised and improved as the situation evolves, based upon the best available advice.

Gahcho Kué and Victor sites remain open and focused on safe work. Operational continuity is critical for jobs, the communities around our operations and the local and regional economies.

At both sites, we have requested employees who live in remote, primarily fly-in communities to return to their home communities or to remain at home and not report to work for their next shift. We are making this decision to eliminate the potential spread of COVID-19 into these remote communities, which have limited medical resources.

At Victor site, now in the early stages of closure, we have prepared a contingency plan to take the site into care and maintenance as the situation requires. The decision regarding when to initiate this plan will depend on a multitude of factors, including the occurrences of COVID-19 in the region and country, as well as the availability of flights and other resources required to continue operations.

Snap Lake site remains in extended care and maintenance under zero occupancy with remote monitoring as we evaluate options for re-opening the camp for spring freshet. We are working closely with our contractor partners, including Det’on Cho Corporation, Khione, Bouwa Whee, and Frontline Medics to develop a continuity plan to ensure we can implement core site maintenance activities required for continued compliance with all licence and permit conditions. Similar to the other sites, freshet activities at Snap Lake depend on the availability of air transport and contractor availability.

The Chidliak exploration site remains unoccupied as per usual at this time of year. Travel by our employees to Nunavut has been suspended. Seasonal maintenance activities scheduled to occur in the summer are anticipated to proceed using local contractors and assistants.

The safety of all of our employees, contract employees and their families remains our top priority during this time. Regulatory compliance and environmental protection are also front of mind and will continue to be critical components of our contingency plans.

Our approach continues to be taking measures to help safeguard our people from the spread of COVID-19 while continuing day-to-day business. These actions include:

  • Regular communications with employees and contractor employees on all guidelines, restrictions and best practice hygiene and health recommendations.
  • Office-based employees are working from home in Calgary, Toronto and Timmins.
  • Introduction of new work rotations for some site-based employees, who can do much their work off site.
  • Restrictions on all new and existing work-related international travel.
  • Restrictions on non-essential visits to operating sites.
  • Intensified cleaning at offices and sites.
  • Social distancing measures at operating sites, including in team meetings, canteens and accommodation.
  • Introduction of temperature screening of those travelling to our sites from Yellowknife, Calgary and Timmins airports.

As our response evolves, De Beers Group will continue to work with local authorities to keep them informed of the steps being taken during this unprecedented crisis. These are unpredictable times and we recognize that we have to adapt quickly. As such, we continue to develop contingency plans that will always prioritize the health and wellbeing of our employees and communities.

We will continue to reach out to our stakeholders, including Indigenous parties and local, regional and federal governments to ensure we have incorporated all perspectives and the best possible information into our plans. We thank you for your continued support of our operations and wish you and your families the best of health and safety.