Ekati Diamond Mine Achieves Historic Milestone of 100 Million Carats Produced

After being in production for 26 years, the Ekati Diamond Mine – owned and operated by Burgundy Diamond Mines – has reached a historic milestone of 100 million carats produced. Located in the Lac de Gras region of the NWT, approximately 300 km northeast of Yellowknife, Ekati’s operations currently run 24/7, 365-days-a-year. 

Ekati has an impressive history as Canada’s first diamond mine and continues to rank in the top 10 producers world-wide, renowned for its high-quality, ethically sourced diamonds. Since opening in 1997,
Ekati mine has been an important economic contributor to the Northwest Territories (NWT), through job creation, resource generation, and community investment. 

Burgundy Diamond Mines purchased Ekati in July 2023 and has remained committed to continuing Ekati’s legacy by working collaboratively with northern communities, government, and Impact Benefit Agreement partners. As well, Burgundy is committed to working to expand mine life potential opportunities identified for future growth. 

The company is aiming to continue to capitalise on the unique potential opportunities at Ekati, namely the Misery underground extension, Sable Underground, Point Lake open pit, Fox high value stockpiles, Fox underground, and other undeveloped resources on the property.

Burgundy Diamond Mines is a resources company focused on the mining, production, cutting, polishing, grading and sale of diamonds. Founded in Perth, Australia, Burgundy also holds a 40% interest in the Naujaat Diamond Project located 9 km from the Naujaat community in Nunavut. Learn more at www.burgundydiamonds.com. 

Canada to Unlock Critical Minerals Development in Northwest Territories with New Funding

On November 13, MP Michael McLeod, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, along with the Honourable Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Infrastructure for the Northwest Territories, announced up to $25 million in infrastructure funding to the Government of the NWT for its Taltson Hydro Expansion Project. The funding will come through the federal government’s Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF), a key program under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy to address infrastructure gaps, enable critical minerals production and connect resources to markets through various clean energy, electrification, and transportation infrastructure projects. 

The Taltson Hydro Expansion Project is in partnership with Indigenous governments, including the Akaitcho Dene First Nations, the Northwest Territory Métis Nation, and the Salt River First Nation. This partnership-based approach ensures that these Indigenous governments play a key role in shaping the project’s direction. 

“This project, under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy’s flagship program, will develop the necessary energy infrastructure to enhance the Northwest Territories’ green energy capabilities and provide benefits to multiple critical minerals mines and communities,” stated Wilkinson. “Developments like this help mines get built faster and will help decarbonize Indigenous communities, and they are a key element in seizing the generational opportunity before us. This investment complements the region’s long history and deep expertise in mining, creates good jobs in the Northwest Territories and advances economic growth, now and into the future.”

The Government of NWT plans to complete pre-construction milestones for the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project to build a new 60-megawatt generation facility near the existing Taltson Hydro Facility south of Great Slave Lake, as well as a 230-kilovolt transmission line connecting the Taltson grid with the Snare hydro system grid north of Great Slave Lake. Expansion of the Taltson system and connection to the North Slave region would enhance the Northwest Territories’ green energy capacity and reliability, significantly reducing the region’s future greenhouse gas emissions and providing grid connection opportunities for multiple critical minerals projects and communities in both the North and South Slave regions. Pending final due diligence, Natural Resources Canada has conditionally approved an investment of up to $25 million under the CMIF for this project.

“The Taltson Hydro Expansion Project will be a key piece of infrastructure of the Northwest Territories,” added Wawzonek. “Significant progress has been made to bring our Steering Committee of governments together and today’s announcement enables us to advance next steps to conclude the legacies of the original Taltson project and regulatory processes for the expansion. We thank Canada for their contribution to supporting strategic infrastructure investments to improve quality of life for NWT residents and prepare the territory for investment and growth.”

Critical minerals are essential components in products used for clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles, electrical transmission lines, and batteries. Canada’s mining sector provides many of the building blocks of clean technologies, including lithium and copper, needed to fight climate change and build a clean economy.

“These strategic investments in clean energy infrastructure are key to realizing Canada’s critical minerals potential,” stated MP McLeod. “I am proud to highlight to highlight the conditional approval of the Talston Hydro Expansion Project, which will help reduce the region’s future greenhouse gas emissions and provide economic opportunities in the North.”