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De Beers Group invested C$125 million procuring goods and services locally in Canada in 2016, according to its latest Report to Society, published today.
This included the company awarding its first ‘evergreen’ supply contract to aboriginal-owned business Bouwa Whee Catering at its new Gahcho Kué mine in the Northwest Territories.
Bouwa Whee Catering, which is 100 per cent owned by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, is now responsible for catering services at the mine for the duration of its life.
De Beers Group also supported community development initiatives around its mine sites with C$6.6 million in funding.
This included teaching local indigenous high-school students about teamwork and the local environment, and distributing books to local schools and homes.
As a result of its improved financial and operating performance, De Beers Group returned US$5 billion to stakeholders globally in 2016 – a 26 per cent rise on 2015 – through taxes, payments and dividends, emphasising the importance of the relationships with stakeholders, including governments, communities, suppliers and joint venture partners in 2016.
The Report also highlights that in Canada, De Beers Group:
- spent more than C$356,000 on training for employees;
- was recognised for its efforts on safety at Victor mine by winning the John T Ryan Award for the safest mine in Canada, and at Gahcho Kué mine by winning the Workplace Health and Safety Award;
- developed a seed collection, propagation and planting program at Victor mine, working with the Attawapiskat community, to help rehabilitate the site.
“We understand that the future success of the mine is largely dependent on our continued commitment to maintaining strong relationships with local communities and our supply chain. The new contract with Bouwa Whee Catering is the first of many examples of the partnerships that will help us realise this success.”
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Notes to Editors
The Report to Society 2016 can be viewed online at www.debeersgroup.com/reporttosociety
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About De Beers Group
De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining and marketing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. As part of the company’s operating philosophy, the people of De Beers Group are committed to ‘Building Forever’ by making a lasting contribution to the communities in which they live and work, and transforming natural resources into shared national wealth. For further information about De Beers Group, visit www.debeersgroup.com.