Maria Canton
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 04/99) - After only 10 months of operation, BHP is looking to expand their Ekati diamond mine with the exploitation of three more kimberlite pipes.

The new pipes -- Sable, Beartooth and Pigeon -- are expected to extend the life of the mine by 18 years.

"We would like to bring these new pipes into production in the near future," said BHP spokesperson Graham Nicholls, speaking at the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce luncheon last Friday.

"An application has already been made to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Board about them."

Nicholls also noted that he expected the review process to be lengthy, but that the mine hopes to begin building an access road north to Sable by 2001.

The new pipes are within the existing BHP claims block that was covered by baseline studies conducted in 1995. At that time, BHP was clear that as new kimberlite pipes emerged, they would be added to Ekati's existing ore reserves.

"It is reasonable to expect that we'll be developing and making applications to agencies for reviews of new pipes," said Nicholls.

After the original, 1995 permit process, the Environmental Assessment Review Panel concluded "the cumulative environmental effects of additional development by BHP on the Lac de Gras claims block are unlikely to be significant."

In February of this year, BHP made their initial application to DIAND, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada. From there, it was forwarded to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board for assessment.

"When the original development description was submitted to the board," said Louie Azzolini, environmental assessment officer for the Mackenzie Valley Review Board, "the information was found to be insufficient and we asked BHP to provide further information."