Both of De Beers Canada ’ s operating mines make a large contribution to their surrounding communities . In 2010 , the company injected $ 474 million into the Canadian economy through operations contracts , goods , services , community education , and literacy programs .
The company has seven Impact Benefit Agreements and one Working Agreement in place covering nine aboriginal communities close to the mines . A total of $ 48 million was spent on goods provided by aboriginal suppliers at Snap Lake , with $ 49 million going to Victor Mine ’ s local aboriginal community businesses . “ We ’ re very proud of how we operate sustainably and responsibly ,” Ormsby says . ■
[ Details correct at time of writing ]
www . canada . debeersgroup . com
Snap Lake mine has an expected life of 20 years and produced 926,000 carats in 2010 . The 20 year life-of-mine is currently the longest in the De Beers Group .
Both mines produce quality stones that fetch a higher price per carat than the average price globally , a fact that justifies the larger cost to mine in Canada than other countries where construction and operating costs may be lower . “ In Canada , because mining is becoming more and more remote , the cost to construct and operate a mine can be quite high when compared to a number of other jurisdictions ,” Ormsby says . “ Add in the costs of operating in extreme conditions and we need to ensure we ’ re producing a quality product .”
In addition to cold winters – with temperatures often reaching minus 70 degrees Celsius – the Canadian mines are reachable only by air year-round , which drives up supply and labour costs . Each mine is supported by a seasonal ‘ ice road ’, which adds another layer of costs to the operations . m-mtoday . com 73