Hay River (Mar 10/03) - After a half-dozen years, Hay River and De Beers got re-acquainted last week.

Two officials of the diamond mining giant visited the community to meet businesspeople, politicians and students.

About 25 local businesspeople were given a lengthy briefing on the De Beers' Snap Lake project.

Mayor Duncan McNeill, who invited the officials to town, hopes local businesses will take advantage of opportunities at Snap Lake.

"Hay River is a business community," he told the visitors. "We welcome you with open arms."

John Goyman, the operations manager for the Snap Lake project, says he got vibes that the community was pro-development, which he said was good to see.

McNeill, who notes the last visit by De Beers was six or seven years ago, also hopes the visit will make Hay River better known as a potential bedroom community for Snap Lake workers.

The mayor said he was particularly happy the De Beers officials visited students at Diamond Jenness Secondary School. "Their project is far enough down the line that their future employees are over there."

McNeill also asked Goyman about the possibility of a diamond cutting and polishing facility being established in Hay River. Goyman replied that, while he didn't want to raise expectations, it is possible.

Following the presentation by De Beers, Robert Dean, president of Stan Dean and Sons Ltd., said it is hard to tell what impact Snap Lake will have on Hay River.

"Time will tell," Dean said.

Snap Lake, about 225 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, would be De Beers' first diamond mine outside of southern Africa. The company hopes to have it in production by 2007, once all regulatory approvals are received.

The underground mine will cost $490 million to build and would have a minimum life of 25 years. It would employ about 550 people and have a $102-million annual operating cost.

It would produce about two coffee cans full of diamonds each day.