Yellowknife (Nov 08/04) - Work is progressing on the Northwest Territories' newest diamond mine with 110 people currently working at Snap Lake Mine, owned and operated by De Beers Canada.

Progress at the site is going very well, says John McConnell, vice-president of De Beers' NWT projects.

De Beers Canada geologist Josh Harvey underground at the Snap Lake site in September. - photo courtesy of De Beers Canada

A small bulk sample plant is up and running and all aspects of the project seem to be either on or ahead of schedule, he says.

A 900-metre airstrip at the Snap Lake site will be extended to 1,600m so that a Hercules aircraft will be able to get into the area. A tank farm is also being built with six small tanks and one large tank capable of holding 12.5 million litres.

Some roads still need to be constructed around the site and some foundations for future construction projects are being worked on, says McConnell.

Other buildings being proposed for construction include a processing plant, a power plant, a main administrative facility, accommodations and a water and sewage treatment plant.

Throughout 2006, which is the primary construction phase for the mine, McConnell estimates there will be a peak of 500 people working at Snap Lake and an estimated 1,600 truck loads of equipment will be transported to the mine. Once production has started, there will be anywhere from 300 to 350 people on site at any one particular point in time.

McConnell says it's going to be a challenge to get enough qualified Northern and aboriginal workers on site once the mine hits the production phase in 2007, but he adds the Mine Training Society is doing an excellent job of anticipating demand.

The test mining of the Snap Lake mine is going exactly as predicted, says McConnell. So far this year the De Beers' Snap Lake team has contracted out $45 million in goods and services to both Northern and aboriginal firms.

Tenders for next year are valued at $100 million. McConnell says any Northern contractors who want a piece of the action should contact the De Beers office and fill out a questionnaire.