Sydney Selvon
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 04/06) - Finning Canada has been awarded a three-year $16 million contract for work at the De Beers Snap Lake diamond mine project.

Finning Canada Inc. will primarily hire Northern workers. - photo courtesy of Finning Canada Inc.

The contract is to supply all on-site power generation equipment at the mine site, located 220 km north of Yellowknife. Finning will provide seven diesel generator sets that will produce 21 megawatts of electricity to the mine, which is enough power to supply 20,000 homes.

"This is the third Canadian diamond mine for which Finning will design and supply power generation and heat recovery equipment and systems," said Doug Whitehead, Finning's president and CEO.

The company currently holds contracts for the Ekati, Diavik and Jericho mines. It has the exclusive representation for all Caterpillar equipment and services in NWT, Alberta and B.C.

Joanne Miller, Finning's manager of corporate communications, said it's the company's policy to prioritize the recruitment of Northerners for all contracts obtained in the North.

"In that respect, we have endorsed the recruitment policy of De Beers in the region," said Miller.

Finning has about 130 employees in the North, including the NWT.

About a dozen skilled workers, mechanics, plant operators and electricians will be hired for the Snap Lake mine.

Finning is also discussing a second contract with De Beers, said Miller.