Lac de Gras (July 18/03) - Diavik Diamond Mine is complete. Now it's time to party.

The company is holding a grand opening tomorrow (Saturday) at the mine's site, located on 20 square kilometres East Island in Lac de Gras, approximately 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife.

The official opening includes a mine tour that will give participants the opportunity to appreciate the results of three years of work.

A Dene drum song and a performance by Kugluktuk Youth Drummers will help set the tone.

About 250 are expected to attend, including Diavik employees, but it is by invitation only.

Diavik has chartered 10 airplanes to transport participants to the site.

The mine's operations are expected to make a major contribution to the territory's gross domestic product (GDP).

"BHP Billiton (another mining company) contributes approximately 25 per cent of NWT's GDP, and we will add just a slightly lower amount," said Diavik spokesman Tom Hoefer.

The Diavik mine produced its first diamonds last December. Construction was completed ahead of schedule and under Diavik's estimated $1.3 billion budget.

Once the pit starts producing on a large scale, Diavik expects to employ more than 520 people.

Currently, 70 per cent of its workers are from the North.