Another “safe” winter road season for Diavik Mines

Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. of Yellowknife, NT. is pleased to report that its 2012 winter-road resupply program has been completed safely with 3,160 loads (89,000 tonnes) of fuel, cement, explosives, equipment, wind turbine equipment (see full story on Pages 44-49), and other materials being deliv­ered to its diamond mine, 300 km northeast of Yellowknife.

With no all-season road access, Diavik resupplied its Diavik Diamond Mine during a 57-day period in February and March. Of the loads, 60 were for its wind farm, featured later in this issue.

Custom-designed trailers were required for the epoxy-resin turbine blades and the steel tower sections. The 33-metre blades were the longest loads ever shipped over the ice road. Other turbine components shipped includes na­celles (generators, stators, and hubs).

In total, operating mines and other users hauled 6,545 loads northbound over the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road. Rock boxes from the decommission­ing of several of Diavik’s 218-tonne haul trucks were among the 656 back­hauls. Total tonnage hauled was approximately 210,000 tonnes.