EKATI Diamond Mine

The Project

EKATI Diamond Mine is Canada's first surface and underground diamond mine. It is located in the Barrenlands of the Northwest Territories about 310 km northeast of Yellowknife. The project area contains over 156 kimberlite pipes―all located underneath small lakes―of which at least six contain high-quality diamonds. Mined ore is transported to an 18,000 tonne per day process plant where it is crushed, scrubbed and ground to release the diamonds from the surrounding kimberlite. EKATI has produced an average of three million carats of rough diamonds per year over the last three years and represents about six per cent of current world rough diamond supply by value.

The EKATI project area is located within pristine tundra. The harsh climate and low biological productivity of the area means that special effort has to be made to mitigate the environmental impacts of mine activities. As the first diamond mine in Canada, and one of the most visible businesses in Canada's North, the mine operates according to strict criteria established by Territorial and Federal environmental review agencies.

Our Role

Rescan scientists began comprehensive environmental baseline studies of the EKATI project area in 1993 and have continued to conduct environmental studies every year since then. Rescan completed the Environmental Impact Statement in 1996 and helped guide it through the project assessment and permitting process. The mine began operation in 1998.

Rescan currently conducts a wide range of studies to monitor environmental quality, including the annual Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program, the Wildlife Effects Monitoring Program, the Air Quality Monitoring Program, and baseline studies of lakes and streams prior to development within a watershed. These studies form the basis for environmental permitting, environmental management planning and mitigation planning.

Rescan wrote the Environmental Assessment for EKATI’s successful expansion into the Pigeon, Sable and Beartooth watersheds in 2000 and technical support for EKATI’s water license renewal applications from 2003 to the present. Rescan has also provided technical support to BHP Billiton for the development of the EKATI Interim Closure and Reclamation Plan and associated research initiatives.