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RAPAPORT... Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. confirmed that progress continues to be made with the development of the Gahcho Kué diamond mine. Given that winter season is ending across northern Canada, the company's focus has been on concluding shipments of equipment and supplies between Yellowknife and Gahcho Kué over the annual ice road. The 2015 ice road shipments include the mining fleet, drills, high-pressure grinding rolls, structural steel, cement and fuel. Upon completion of these deliveries, all the necessary equipment required for the completion of construction will be on site at Gahcho Kué, according to the company. Mountain Province's president and CEO, Patrick Evans, said, "Thanks to a high level of preparedness on the part of the project operator, De Beers Canada, and favorable weather conditions, approximately 78 percent of the planned deliveries had been completed by mid-March. This equates to 1,669 out of 2,143 planned truckloads. Based on progress to date, it is anticipated that all the planned deliveries will be made prior to the closing of the ice road." Mountain Province anticipates that first diamond production from the mine will begin in the second half of 2016.
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