Mountain Province Diamonds has announced that development of the Gahcho Kué diamond mine is progressing according to plan and budget with the overall project some 62% complete at the end of May, 2015. Key areas of focus are continued dewatering to expose the kimberlites, the placement of concrete foundations and the erection of steel superstructures of the major facilities.  A key milestone is to ensure that the process plant building is enclosed by October 2015.

Patrick Evans, Mountain Province President and CEO, commented: “We’re on track for first production in H2 2016 and are currently making arrangements to be in a position to receive and sell our 49% share of diamond production. These arrangements are expected to be in place by the end of 2015.”

There are currently approximately 500 employees and contractors on site at Gahcho Kué and this number is expected to peak at approximately 650 during the third quarter of 2015. During production there will be approximately 400 employees at Gahcho Kué. The project Operator, De Beers Canada, maintains a strong focus on a robust safety record with fifteen consecutive months without a lost-time injury.

Mountain Province Diamonds is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kué diamond mine located in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Gahcho Kué is the world’s largest and richest new diamond mine. The project consists of a cluster of four diamondiferous kimberlites, three of which have a probable mineral reserve of 35.4 Mt grading 1.57 ct/t for total diamond content of 55.5 Mct.

A 2014 NI 43-101 feasibility study report filed by Mountain Province (available on SEDAR) indicates that the Gahcho Kué project has an IRR of 32.6%. The mine is expected to produce an average of 4.5 Mct/y over a 12-year mine life.