The End of the (Ice) Road?
May 26, 26
(IDEX Online) - The long-term future of the world's longest ice road - a vital supply line for diamond deposits in Canada's frozen north - is in doubt after the closure of one mines, financial difficulties of the other two, and milder winters.
The 370-mile Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road (TCWR) has long been the preferred route for heavy supplies to Diavik, Ekati and Gaucho Kue, in Northwest Territories, all clustered together close to the Arctic Circle.
But Diavik closed in March, Ekati filed for creditor protection in April and Gahcho Kue is in ongoing financial crisis.
The winter road, built mostly over frozen lakes, allows the mines to ship in a year's worth of fuel, cement, construction materials, heavy mining equipment, tires and explosives during the eight-to-10-week window.
But it costs around $20 million to build every year.
De Beers - operator of the Gahcho Kue - has assumed oversight following the closure of Diavik and says planning has begun for the 2027 road.
But there is speculation that it has a limited life expectancy beyond that.
Cabin Radio, based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, says De Beers did not answer its questions about money for effective and safe winter road program this coming winter - or whether there were circumstances in which there might be no winter road at all.
Pic of the winter road courtesy TCWR.