Iqaluit (Feb 09/04) - Tahera Corporation's Jericho Diamond Project has been given the green light by the Nunavut Impact Review Board.

All that remains prior to Jericho becoming Nunavut's first diamond mine is approval from Indian Minister Andrew Mitchell.

"It's very good news. We're very pleased with the decision," said Greg Missal, Tahera vice president.

There's no set time limit for Mitchell to approve the project but Missal is "hopeful he will deal with it in a timely manner," said Missal.

Tahera is targeting completion of both permitting and project financing initiatives during 2004, and plans to advance the Jericho Project to commercial production as quickly as possible.

The Nunavut board held public hearings in three Nunavut communities from Jan. 5-9.

Tahera's Jericho project is located about 350 kilometres southwest of Cambridge Bay. It's 25 kilometres from the former Lupin Mine.