RAPAPORT... Diavik Diamond Mines released  its 2010 midyear socioeconomic monitoring agreement report, which provided a summary of the mine's training, employment and business initiatives.

As of June, the Diavik mine and its contractors employed 16 apprentices, a number within its committed range of eight to 18, with 14 apprentices considered northerners. Three of these northerners successfully completed their apprenticeships during the first half of 2010, bringing the total number of Diavik apprentices to achieve journeyperson certification to 21.

Total employment increased to 872 workers at Diavik due to the commencement of underground operations. Northern and aboriginal employment averaged 551  and 267, respectively. Diavik is committed to raising these figures as part of its northern employment strategy.

Diavik’s combined capital and operating expenditures totaled $150 million during the first half. Of this total, $101 million was spent with northern business. Diavik's  cumulative spending, including initial mine construction during the 2000 to 2002 period and its operations, which commenced in 2003, came to $4.5 billion, $3.2 billion of which was spent on northern business.

Diavik Diamond Mines, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, holds a 60 share in Diavik and Harry Winston Diamond owns the remaining 40 percent stake.