De Beers Canada Inc. May 28 released its 2008 Snap Lake Mine Socio-Economic Report, which summarizes the company’s contribution to the economic, social and cultural well-being of the Northwest Territories. Highlights of the report include:
• Another $295.9 million spent in 2008, bringing the company’s total investment on Snap Lake’s construction and operations to $1.235 billion at the end 2008;
• $218.7 million spent with NWT businesses (74 percent of total spend) and $132.9 million spent with northern Aboriginal businesses or joint ventures (61 percent of northern expenditure);
• A transition from construction to operations that saw growth of the company’s northern work force in absolute numbers to 274 people, bringing the company very close to achieving its NWT residency target as forecast during the environmental assessment;
• 15 trades trainees, six apprentices and 13 underground mine trainees participated in northern training and development initiatives;
• $1.9 million dollars spent on corporate and social investment of which $1.2 million was spent on training and capacity-building initiatives for NWT residents;
• Completion of the sixth year of our De Beers Books in Homes literacy initiative, with over 17,000 books delivered to date to children in communities close to our mine; and
• The opening of the company’s Cultural Centre at Snap Lake and the beginning of a number of cultural-based programs for employees.
“In 2008 we finished construction and commissioning of the underground crusher and conveyor system, we commenced commercial production in first quarter, and we celebrated the official opening of the Snap Lake Mine with close to 200 special guests in July,” said Chantal Lavoie, chief operating officer of the mine. “Our employees did an amazing job in 2008, and their resilience is bringing us through the turbulent times of 2009.”
Earlier this year, DeBeers laid off about 120 workers at the Snap Lake Mine in response to current economic conditions.
