Kitikmeot (July 31/06) - Tahera Mining Corporation is looking to the future as it gets ready to release its 2006 second term quarterly report.

Construction at the Jericho property finished during the first quarter of 2006. Tahera is now focused on the production of rough diamonds from the site, said Peter Gillin, chairman and chief executive officer.

During this year’s first quarter, 63,070 tonnes of kimberlite were processed, yielding 28,318 carats. Capital costs for the mine were approximately $112 million at the end of the first quarter.

“It was kind of a testing and tweaking period,” said Gillin, referring to kimberlite mined during the first quarter.

As the throughput and grade increases, the mine is expected to yield more carats per tonne.

“Results got progressively better through the quarter,” he said.

The mine produced a 40-carat diamond and a 63-carat diamond during the first quarter, which is a positive, said Gillin.

The transition from a construction site to a mine has gone well, said Gillin.

The number of workers is down from the construction period, but Gillin said that’s a bit of a relief. With more than 150 construction contractors and Tahera employees on the property at the same time, accommodations were at a premium. Now with just 90 mine employees and contractors, people have more elbow room.

“It’s good for morale,” said Gillin.

Another big morale boost for Tahera was winning the annual Mine Rescue Competition in June, said Gillin.

“It reflects well for the entire mine’s positive commitment to mine safety,” he said.

“It’s a tremendous feather in their cap.”

Kitikmeot Caterers is also high on morale, with nine full-time employees on site at Jericho.

The company provides catering, housekeeping and janitorial services at the mine, said Kitikmeot Caterers operations manager Paul Sine. “The work ethic Tahera has is excellent,” he said.

Although Tahera is a large corporation, Sine said that the company often feels like a small mining firm of years gone by.

“It reminds me of the old days,” he said.

Tahera will announce its 2006 second quarter report on August 3.