Environmental Excellence

Joint Regional Grizzly Bear DNA Program

Diavik Diamond Mine

Located in one of the world’s most challenging environments, on an island in the remote tundra of Canada’s Northwest Territories, the Diavik Diamond Mine is an unincorporated joint venture between Diavik Diamond Mines (2012) Inc. and Dominion Diamond Diavik Limited Partnership. Diavik Diamond Mines is a subsidiary of Rio Tinto plc of London, England, and Dominion Diamond Diavik Limited Partnership is owned by Dominion Diamond Corporation of Yellowknife, Canada.The Diavik Diamond Mine, which began operations in 2003, includes four kimberlite ore bodies called A154 North, A154 South, A418, and A21. To open-pit mine the A154 and A418 kimberlites, which were located under shallow waters of Lac de Gras, Diavik constructed two water retention rockfill dikes. The open-pit mining phase of these three kimberlites concluded in 2012 at which time Diavik successfully transitioned to an all underground mine. In November 2014, Rio Tinto announced a major investment in Diavik; US$350 million for development of the A21 kimberlite ore body, to be funded by the joint venture. A21 development, which will include construction of a rockfill dike, has begun and production from this ore body is expected to begin in 2018. Diavik’s ore reserve and current mine plans indicate production continuing to 2023.

Dominion Diamond Corporation

Dominion Diamond Corporation is a Canadian diamond mining company with ownership interests in two major producing diamond mines situated approximately 200 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle in Canada's Northwest Territories. The Company operates the Ekati Diamond Mine (in which it owns an 88.9% controlling interest, as well as a 65.3% in the surrounding areas containing additional resources), and owns 40% of the Diavik Diamond Mine. It supplies rough diamonds to the global market through its sorting and selling operations in Canada, Belgium and India and is the world's third largest producer of rough diamonds by value.