The Victor Project is located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario, approximately 90 km west of the coastal community of Attawapiskat.
Aerial view of the Victor Mine
Victor
Victor Mine is located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario, approximately 90km west of the coastal community of Attawapiskat First Nation. Victor Mine is an open pit mine and Ontario’s first diamond mine.
In June 2005, the Attawapiskat First Nation voted in favour (85.5%) of ratifying the Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA).
In August 2005, De Beers received approval by the Federal Minister of the Environment for the Victor Project Comprehensive Study Environmental Assessment (EA).
Construction of the mine began in February 2006, once the necessary permits were granted.
Victor team at the Teepee in 2008 with Phil Fontaine (back row, fourth from left), then National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in Canada.
The Victor Mine is located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario, approximately 90 km west of the coastal community of Attawapiskat First Nation. It is Ontario’s first diamond mine and the second in Canada for De Beers.
The Victor Mine is an open-pit mine and is one of 18 kimberlite pipes discovered on the property, 16 of which are diamondiferous.
Construction of the Victor Mine began in February 2006 after receiving all necessary approvals from provincial and federal governments.
Approximately $1 billion was spent on construction of the mine, with approximately C$167 million spent with Aboriginal businesses or joint venture partners. It is also estimated that De Beers will contribute C$6.7 billion cumulative GDP impact for all of Ontario during the life of the Victor Mine.
The Victor Mine reached commercial production in 2008 (six months ahead of schedule) and the Official Mine Opening took place in July 2008.
In October 2009, the Victor Mine was voted “Mine of the Year” by the readers of the international trade publication Mining Magazine.
De Beers is committed to sustainable development in local communities The Victor Mine has signed four community agreements for the Victor Mine including:
•an IBA with the Attawapiskat First Nation (November 2005),
•a Working Relationship Agreement with the Taykwa Tagamou Nation (May 2005),
•an IBA with Moose Cree First Nation (September 2008) and
•an IBA with Kashechewan and Fort Albany First Nation (February 2009)
Winter road to Victor Mine that operates for approximately six weeks each year
Construction at Victor (2007)
The site facilities include an open-pit mine, processing plant, workshops, warehouse, offices, fuel storage, pit dewatering system, accommodation complex and airstrip.
Support services include potable water, sewage treatment and waste management. Mining utilizes standard open-pit mine equipment comprised of 100 tonne trucks, large front-end loaders, dozers and the necessary support equipment.
The processing plant will treat 2.5 million tonnes of kimberlite per year (about 7500 tonnes per day) with the final product is then sorted and assessed for value.
Victor processing plant
The mine is supported by seasonal winter road access as weather allows for the transportation of equipment and supplies. Personnel are transported to and from the site by air with pick-up stops in Timmins and four local First Nationsl coastal communities.
Core and bulk sampling programs on other kimberlites continue. Results of the evaluation of these programs will help determine if the mine life may be extended.
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