Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 21/98) - The contract to build BHP's new diamond-sorting and valuation plant, the first of its kind in North America, has gone to Ninety North Construction and Development Ltd.

Ninety North, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Calgary-based Urbco Inc. will build the $2.2-million facility, in a joint venture with Yellowknife-based Nahanni Construction.

Project architect is Park Sanders Adam Viske of Yellowknife.

The plan is to complete the facility by Jan. 15, 1999.

Jo Hillman, who has been with BHP in the North for five years, will manage the sorting facility. Prior to coming North, Hillman was with BHP's Island Copper Mine Project in B.C.

Prior to completion of the facility, rough diamonds will be sorted at the mine, Jim Excell, BHP Diamonds vice-president of operations, said.

To officially mark commencement of construction, company and government officials attended a sod-turning at the facility's Yellowknife airport location Thursday.

"As a government, we asked for the site to be in a Northern community. In spite of the fact that the federal government issued (BHP) the licence without any further conditions," Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development Minister Stephen Kakfwi said.

"We are pleased to be selected by BHP Diamonds Inc. as general contractor for this significant project," Jack op der Heijde, Ninety North vice-president, said.

"This facility will contribute a great deal to the Yellowknife and Northern economy," he said.

"It is a real thrill for our company and Nahanni to have the opportunity to play a key role in making the facility a reality."

Ninety North has focused its business on commercial and apartment as well as institutional projects in the NWT. Ninety North, with offices in Yellowknife, was acquired in June by Urbco in one of the North's largest real estate deals. The deal also included 214 real estate units and 13 retail and commercial properties.

The company's tender to BHP Diamonds is part of an initiative to broaden the company's business to include industrial construction, Ninety North said.

The sorting and valuation facility will employ about 15 people, Excell said.

BHP originally planned to build the facility at the mine site.

The Ekati diamond mine is scheduled to go into production next month.

There are currently 350 full-time BHP employees. Some 300 are Northern. Of the 300 Northerners, 120 are aboriginal.

An official opening ceremony will be held at the mine, 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, Oct. 14.