De Beers and Mountain Province Diamonds’ joint venture Gahcho Kué mine has surpassed C$2 billion ($1.5 billion) of procurement spend with businesses in the Northwest Territories (NWT) since construction of the mine commenced in 2015.
The milestone represents 61% of the total C$3.2 billion ($2.3 billion) spent on procurement for Gahcho Kué since 2015, in line with its commitment to procure at least 60% of the goods and services required to build and operate the mine from companies located in the NWT.
“This major economic milestone highlights the value Gahcho Kué brings to Indigenous communities, businesses, and the territory,” said De Beers Canada country president Avischen Moodley.
“Our NWT business partners continue to demonstrate their ability to provide world-class goods and services that are essential to the successful operation of the mine.”
NWT and Indigenous businesses provide a wide range of goods and services to Gahcho Kué, including welding, transportation logistics, trucking support, passenger and cargo flights, labour services and camp catering.
Mountain Province Diamonds chief executive Mark Wall said Gahcho Kué had an impressive track record of socio-economic contributions and environmental stewardship in the NWT.
“That track record continues to strengthen, with Gahcho Kué recording its highest-ever level of spending with NWT businesses in 2023,” he said.
Diamond mining is the largest contributor to the NWT’s Gross Domestic Product, representing C$588 million ($429 million) of the territory’s C$4.25 billion ($3.1 billion) GDP in 2023, according to the NWT Bureau of Statistics.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
