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De Beers Group and Mountain Province Diamonds are pleased to release the 2020 Socio-Economic Agreement Report for Gahcho Kué Mine.

During 2020, the mine provided 597 jobs, of which 50% were held by residents of the Northwest Territories a slight increase from 49% reported in 2019. Significantly, the number of jobs held by Indigenous residents of the NWT increased to 168 last year, representing 28% of the mine workforce which is the highest number since the mine began production in 2016 and a two per cent increase from 2019.

Additional highlights from 2020:

• 3.5 million working hours with no lost time injuries from September 2018 to the end of 2020, a 48.6% reduction in recordable injury frequency
• 6.5 million carats recovered
• 75% of goods and services purchased through NWT businesses and joint ventures
• $748,000 invested in community initiatives, including a COVID-19 community response program that provided approximately $275,000 to purchase 330 computers for schools, food hampers, cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment

Nompumelelo Zikalala, Managing Director of De Beers Group Managed Operations, said: “Our commitment is to create a positive lasting legacy that will endure well beyond the recovery of our last diamond. It is for this reason that we are committed to adding value to communities in the NWT.  Through our community response plan, we provided timely and critical support to local communities challenged by the pandemic. Our approach is guided by our ambitious Building Forever sustainability framework, our blueprint for a holistic, integrated approach to create a better future where communities thrive and the environment is protected by accelerating equal opportunity and protecting the natural world.” 

Stuart Brown, CEO of Mountain Province Diamonds, voice identical sentiment: “Our commitment to enriching the overall well-being of local communities through our business activities includes ensuring that the socio-economic benefits of Gahcho Kue mine are shared locally. Despite the unusual challenges presented by the pandemic, the Joint Venture has continued to meet or exceed the commitments we have made.” 

CLICK HERE to access a copy of the full report.

Gahcho Kue Mine is located 280 km northeast of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. The mine officially opened in September 2016 and has a life of mine through 2030.