OREANDA-NEWS. October 22, 2015. Diavik Diamond Mines (2012) Inc., operator of the Diavik Diamond Mine, has had its water licence renewed for an eight-year term. The renewal comes after the Wek’eezhii Land and Water Board recommended the renewal approval to Government of the Northwest Territories Environment and Natural Resources Minister Michael Miltenberger.

The licence reconfirmed existing environmental limits and added engineering conditions, new to the NWT. 

Diavik President and Chief Operating Officer Marc Cameron said, “We are pleased to have this licence in place to allow us to complete mining at Diavik. This licence sets out the conditions and requirements for us to continue to successfully protect the environment in which we operate.”

The eight-year renewal is designed to regulate Diavik’s remaining commercial mining operations projected to continue through 2023.  Diavik is continuing its discussions with the Wek’eezhii Land and Water Board to grant a licence with a term which includes mine closure.

Diavik’s commitment to closure started on day one of construction of the mine and we have been undertaking progressive closure activities throughout operations. A water licence for closure is critical to our operation and we anticipate being the first diamond mine in the NWT to complete a regulated mine closure plan.” said Mr. Cameron.