Secure at BHP sorting plant
Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 15/00) - The royal-blue floor inside the BHP sorting and valuation facility feels almost sticky.
The carpet in the sorting rooms is "anti-bounce," says Jo Hillman, BHP Diamonds sorting and valuation facility manager. The plant is located at the Yellowknife airport.
 BHP's Graham Nicholls says having a Canada Customs official in Yellowknife is an added bonus when it comes to security |
But there are rare occasions when a diamond accidentally tweezed too tight doesn't hit the floor. On one occasion, a rough stone accidentally popped into the shirt pocket of a sorter, says Hillman
"We looked everywhere," she said. The escaped stone was eventually located.
If a stone were to go missing, it's apt to get sucked up by vacuum. But like a prisoner trying to go out with the trash, the guards are on top the situation.
The contents of the vacuum are checked. And if a diamond in the rubbish were missed -- all garbage is incinerated -- diamonds can handle the heat.
Besides the carpet, the paper covering the sorting tables is also different. It's so white that is has to be bought from a country that allows more bleaching agents during processing than Canada.
With all the specialized materials -- they even use a certain kind of florescent light -- it makes one wonder if an entrepreneur might consider setting up a company to service the unique office-supply needs of the North's diamond-cutting, polishing and sorting industry.
Packed in heat
The BHP sorting facility, which employs about eight people, is the only one of its kind in North America. Rough diamonds are sorted for government royalty purposes inside the plant which operates on a five-week cycle -- diamonds arriving from the mine are shipped out about five weeks later.
BHP spokesperson Graham Nicholls said having a Canada Customs official in Yellowknife is an added bonus when it comes to security.
With Customs inspecting the rough diamonds on site, it means heat-sealed packages of rough diamonds, destined for BHP's Antwerp sales office, do not need to be re-opened until they arrive in Europe.
"When we ship from here, it means they (diamond packages) won't be opened again," he said.
"Canada Customs comes here and inspects the diamonds. It was just a matter of asking Customs if they would provide the service."
Security is not the only plus to on-site inspection. Canada Customs inspects the stones inside the facility which adds credibility to the fact these diamonds are Canadian.
In a world concerned about conflict diamonds, or as they are also known, blood diamonds, proof of origin is an important marketing tool.
Nicholls adds that even the building's vehicle bay was designed with security in mind.
"We have to be able to get a Brink's truck in here."
