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Over 53 days, De Beers Canada’s three remote mine sites were resupplied over a winter road program that included 1,282 truckloads of equipment and cargo, 1,425 loads carrying 57.7 million  litres of fuel, and a record backhaul program of 498 truckloads from Snap Lake Mine.

In the Northwest Territories, De Beer is a member of the Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto Winter Road Joint Venture that operates the main trunk ice road through the Territory. In addition, De Beers also built and maintained two separate ice roads, a 30 km spur road connecting Snap Lake to the main ice road and a 120 km spur road connecting Gahcho Kué Mine to the main ice road.

In Northern Ontario, De Beers is also involved in a 400 km winter road linking Victor Mine to Moosonee. De Beers supports the construction and maintenance program for the 300km road between Moosonee and Attawapiskat First Nation, then De Beers builds the final 100km section from Attawapiskat to the mine. The first loads from this year’s program arrived at the mine on February 7, while the final loads arrived at site on March 12.

The NWT winter roads also opened on February 7, with the last loads departing the Gahcho Kué Mine on March 31.

All three programs were 100% successful for 2017, despite some challenging weather conditions. Unseasonably warm weather delayed the start of the Victor program for almost a week, while blizzards shut the Gahcho Kué spur road for six days.

“I am proud of the resourcefulness and efficiency our winter road teams and community contract partners to complete the targeted winter road programs despite a harsh and challenging winter,” said Erik Madsen, De Beers Canada General Manager of Sustainability.

At Snap Lake Mine, the care and maintenance team and winter road contractors accomplished a major backhaul program, moving an NWT record of 498 truckloads of equipment, cargo and other materials off site. This was part of the planned program in support of Snap Lake moving into Extended Care and Maintenance.

At Victor Mine, the winter road program was accomplished with zero injuries.