07 October 2009
2009 mid year socio economic highlights
Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. (DDMI), operator of the Diavik Diamond Mine, is pleased to release its 2009 mid year socio-economic monitoring report, which provides a summary of our annual training, employment, and business initiatives. Highlights include:
• Training: At mid year, Diavik and its contractors employed 20 apprentices. Since 2003, some 18 Diavik apprentices have successfully completed their apprenticeships to achieve journeyperson certification.
• Employment: In first half 2009, the Diavik operations workforce averaged 812 people. Of these, 529 (65 per cent of the total) were priority hire Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal northern workers.
• Business: For the first six months of 2009, Diavik's combined capital and operating expenditures were CDN $267.6 million. Of this, $175.4 million (66 per cent) was with northern business. Total local cumulative spending since 2000 has reached $3.1 billion (73 per cent of the total).
The full report is included in the reports and publications section of our web site at www.diavik.ca.
The Diavik Diamond Mine is located 300 km. northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and is an unincorporated joint venture between DDMI (60%) and Harry Winston Diamond Limited Partnership. (40%). Both companies are headquartered in Yellowknife, Canada. DDMI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto plc of London, England, and Harry Winston Diamond Limited Partnership is controlled by Harry Winston Diamond Corporation of Toronto, Canada. DDMI is the operator of the project. For further information contact Doug Ashbury, Acting Principal Adviser, Communications at Tel: (867) 669-6525, or visit the DDMI website at www.diavik.ca.