Iqaluit (Mar 27/06) - The Tibbitt-Conwoyto winter ice road has been shut down for an indefinite period of time, which may affect jobs at Nunavut’s only diamond mine.

Truck drivers talk as they wait to find out where to take their cargo after the winter ice road has shut down. Mining companies that use the ice road will now have to fly in their supplies. - David Ryan/NNSL photo -

Tahera Mining Corporation, which owns the Jericho Mine, will be reorganizing the company’s priorities because of the ice road’s closure, said chairman and CEO Peter Gillin.

“We are going to have to defer some of the company’s actions, but we believe we can maintain the kimberlite mining,” said Gillin.

The company has just begun diamond processing and production, but some of its non-essential activities like waste stripping will be carried over to the following year.

Waste stripping material may have smaller or less-valuable diamonds in it, but not enough to warrant immediate processing.

There are 120 contractors and company workers at the Jericho Mine. With waste stripping being moved to next year, some jobs may be restructured, Gillin said.

“What you don’t do today, you can do tomorrow,” said Gillin.

During the 42 days the ice road was running, the company received 60 per cent of the 450 loads of supplies the company needed. Essential supplies such as fuel and bulk explosives will now have to be flown into the site.

“Tahera believes its cost exposure to add air freight would be approximately $3 million,” said Gillin.

A decision whether to close the ice road down for the rest of the year was to be made on Saturday by the joint venture management committee.

“We can’t fight the weather and we can’t predict the weather. In the face of that, the ice road isn’t healthy,” said Tom Hoefer, spokesperson for the committee.

Hoefer said 7,200 loads of supplies out of a projected 9,000 to 10,000 loads did make it up the winter road.

The companies were aware of the conditions and were informed to have contingency plans, Hoefer said.

One option for transportation of supplies is First Air’s L382G Hercules aircraft.

Mike Olson, the director of sales for the western region of First Air, said he definitely expects to be busier now that the ice road is closed indefinitely.

“We are going to work with the mines to accommodate their needs,” Olson said.

The Hercules can carry 45,000 pounds of cargo. Olson said First Air has five sets of pilots and a functional support staff.

“We are prepared to go 24/7 to help out.”