Rio Tinto has opened a new open-pit pipe at its Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada in a bid to augment supply.
The fourth diamond pipe, known as A21, will provide an important source of incremental supply over the next four years to sustain production levels at the Rio Tinto operated mine.
The A21 pipe is located adjacent to Diavik’s existing mining operations at Lac de Gras. First ore was delivered in March and the pit is expected to be at full production during the fourth quarter of 2018, following a four-year construction period and an investment of approximately US$350 million, shared by Rio Tinto (60 percent) and joint venture partner Dominion Diamond Corp (40 percent).
Arnaud Soirat, Rio Tinto Copper & Diamonds chief executive, said, “This investment to sustain production levels at Diavik reflects the strong outlook we see for the diamond industry. It is a remarkable achievement to deliver this project safely and ahead of time in such a challenging environment, positioning Diavik to continue meeting the demand for its outstanding diamonds.”
The Diavik Diamond Mine began production in 2003 and has been a fully underground mining operation since 2012. The mine produces predominantly gem-quality diamonds destined for high-end jewellery in all major consumer markets around the world.
News Source : jewellerynet.com
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