Three firms after Diavik contract
Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Apr 11/01) - Three construction businesses are in the running for one of Diavik's remaining big contracts.
Clark Builders, Nishi-Khon/PCL Constructors, and Ninety North Construction and Development, have been approved to bid on the Diavik diamond project's maintenance facility.
"These three contractors all have a Northern base and Northern experience," Bill Aho, president of the NWT Construction Association, said.
"They work here year-round. They've all got a long history of working in the North," he adds.
Clark Builders, owned by Andy Clark and Bill Giebelhaus, is based in Yellowknife and has been operating since 1974.
Nishi-Khon/PCL is 51 per cent Dogrib owned. The remaining 49 per cent is owned by PCL Constructors Northern. PCL Constructors Northern, part of the PCL group, has operated from Yellowknife for 30 years.
Ninety North, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Calgary-based Urbco Inc., has offices in Yellowknife, Iqaluit and Calgary. Ninety North started operations 16 years ago.
The three companies will now put together packages and submit them to project manager Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. The deadline is April 26.
To link the three general contractors with subcontractors, Diavik Diamond Mines held an information meeting Thursday at the Yellowknife Inn.
"This is an excellent opportunity for local sub-contractors and suppliers," Aho said.
As well as the maintenance shop, Diavik is tendering for construction of the kimberlite processing plant and the power station. It is anticipated Diavik will hold similar information meetings for the processing and power plants.
Pre-approved general contractors will be on file at the NWT Construction Association.
Construction of the maintenance shop, processing and power plants is scheduled to begin this year. This year, about $550 million will be spent on construction of the $1.3-billion mine.
The maintenance plant is to be completed early in 2002 with the power plant due to be done mid-2002. The processing plant is to be finished at the end of 2002.
