Welding taking place when Ekati fire started
Northern News Services
Friday, July 8, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
There was welding work taking place in the Ekati diamond mine process plant when a fire broke out early June 23, company officials revealed Wednesday on a conference call with investors.
The company was asked about the suspected cause of the fire that is expected to take three months to repair at a cost of $25 million.
CEO Brendan Bell cautioned it is still to early to conclude for certain what caused the fire.
"We know there was rubber liners and plastic materials which did catch fire, so we draw some conclusions early about the cause being related to cutting or welding," Bell said.
Chantal Lavoie, Dominion's chief operating officer, said the company has a team of employees investigating the cause.
Lavoie said workers that morning were removing a screen used in ore processing and that this required welding work. The work was occurring during a scheduled down time in production at the plant.
Bell also said while repairs are underway, "in excess" of 330 permanent and part-time workers as well as contractors will be laid off temporarily.
"In this economy, it's unfortunate that the fire was severe enough that 330 people will be affected by the fire," said Premier Bob McLeod in an interview Wednesday.
