Public Review for De Beers' New Mine Plan
February 22, 23
(IDEX Online) - Plans for a new De Beers diamond mine in Canada's Nunavut territory are to go to a public review.
The UK-based miner acquired the Chidliak Project, on the vast and sparsely populated Baffin Island, when it bought Peregrine Diamonds in September 2018 for C$107m.
It plans to implement its FutureSmart Mining vision, including the use of drones, airships, remote mining and operation of vehicles, and a modular nuclear reactor.
But concerns have been raised with the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) over the mine's potential impact on caribou, polar bears and traditional Inuit harvesting and land use.
Federal ministers and the NIRB agreed last week that there should be an environmental review.
If approved, the mine could open in 2026, with a closure phase starting in 2045.
Pic courtesy De Beers shows the Chidliak Project,