BHP Billiton Diamonds Booth
The EKATI Diamond Mine is BHP Billiton's only diamond mine and produces nearly four per cent of current world diamond production by weight and six per cent by value.
Located approximately 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife and 200 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories, Canada, the mine is a joint venture between BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. (80%) and geologists Charles E. Fipke and Dr. Stewart E. Blusson (10% each).
The EKATI Diamond Mine is an award-winning project, with world-class facilities and a strong commitment to health, safety, environment and the community.
BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. is part of the BHP Billiton Group, the world's largest diversified resources company.
BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. employs on average 650 people. Most employees work at the mine site. In addition, there are offices in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (NWT), Vancouver, British Columbia, and an exploration office in Kelowna, British Columbia. A comprehensive benefits package for employees includes healthcare, retirement plan, group registered retirement savings plan, group life insurance, medical travel assistance, education assistance program, site allowance, northern travel allowance, fuel purchase program for some communities, an employee assistance program as well as a diamond purchase plan.
BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc employs about 800 people and has on average an additional 600 contractors on site providing a variety of support services.
The main work rotation is 2 weeks at the mine, and 2 weeks out, 12-hour shifts for fourteen days. The mine operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In addition, there are offices in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Vancouver, British Columbia, and an exploration office in Kelowna, British Columbia. The main sales office is located in Antwerp, Belgium.
Employees are provided with free scheduled round-trip, work-related transportation from Points of Hire communities (Yellowknife, Lutsel k'e, Gameti, Wha Ti, Wekweti, Kugluktuk) as well as Hay River, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Deline, Inuvik, Norman Wells, Fort Simpson and Cambridge Bay.
The main work rotation is two weeks in, two weeks out, with 12-hour shifts seven days a week. The mine operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our Commitments to the North
In 1996 BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. signed a Socio-Economic Agreement with the Government of the NWT. In the Agreement, BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. agreed to commit to provide benefits to northerners and northern Aboriginal peoples through the establishment of hiring targets as well as commitments for northern and northern Aboriginal spending and business opportunities.
The Government of the NWT agreed to help northerners and northern Aboriginal peoples take advantage of the opportunity of employment and business ventures with the mine through training and business support services.
Hiring preference is given to Aboriginal northerners and other NWT residents who have the skills required to work at the mine. Our hiring target is 62% for northerners and 31% for northern Aboriginals. Yellowknife, NWT is the main point of hire.
Socio-Economic Agreement (PDF)
Vision
To develop a successful business through committed people continuously achieving new standards of excellence.
Mission
To produce and market Canadian diamonds to attain maximum benefits through responsible development of all resources.
- We will achieve this by following our Core Guiding Principles listed below:
- Safety is the number one priority in the planning and execution of all activities.
- Conducting all activities as responsible stewards of the environment.
- Maintaining the highest level of business ethics and integrity.
- Fostering trust through open and honest communication with employees, governments and the public.
- Demonstrating our commitment to Northerners and Aboriginal peoples.
- Establishing and maintaining long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with customers, suppliers and partners.
- Being the employer of choice (PDF) by providing career opportunities and rewards for performance and innovation.
- Creating a workplace that encourages teamwork and employee involvement.
- Continuously demonstrating measurable improvements in all performance areas.
- Achieving industry leadership in productivity and efficiency.
Employment Benefits
A comprehensive benefits package for employees includes healthcare, retirement plan, group registered retirement savings plan, group life insurance, medical travel assistance, education assistance program, site allowance, northern travel allowance, fuel purchase program for some communities, an employee assistance program as well as a diamond purchase plan.
Training
Employee training programs cover all aspects of the operation and provide opportunities for career advancement.
A voluntary Workplace Learning Program (PDF) helps employees with low literacy levels increase their literacy and numeracy confidence.
The EKATI Diamond Mine contains world-class facilities.
On site, employees and contractors live in the main accommodation complex which houses 683 dorm rooms, each with a bathroom, clothes closets/drawers and an exterior window.
Support facilities include a dining room, food preparation area, laundry and storage areas.
After hours, employees can use the full-size gymnasium, squash/racquetball courts, exercise equipment room, weight room, floor exercise room, games room, television lounges, his/her separate saunas, golf-putting green, running track, golf-simulators and a simulated golf driving range.
Employees can also visit the commissary, at which phone cards, chocolates, souvenirs, toiletries, and miscellaneous items can be purchased. Money can also be withdrawn via Interac.
To get to work, employees pass through a utilidor which links the main complex to the power station, process plant, truckshop building, and the security building, providing protection from the harsh elements when moving to work sites.
In such a remote location, every effort is made to make life at the EKATI Diamond Mine as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Squash and ball tournaments and other sporting activities break the work routine for employees on a two-week in/out rotation.
Safety is the number one priority at the EKATI Diamond Mine. Initiatives underway to manage and promote safety improvement include:
- Air Quality Program
- Positive Attitude Safety System (PASS)
- Hearing Conservation and Noise Level Reduction Program
- "Ask the Nurse" Health Promotion Program
- Safety Suggestion Feedback Program
- Return to Work Program, and
- Operation Zero Harm Safety Recognition Program
Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is an integral part of operating at the EKATI Diamond Mine. JHA's ensure that workplace risks are managed in an open and proactive manner.
To ensure a healthy and safe work environment, the use of controlled substanced including alcohol and drugs are prohibited at the minesite.
Environment
The Arctic tundra and its natural resources are central to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of northern Aboriginal people, and to Canada as a whole. It is our responsibility to ensure that the tundra environment at the EKATI Diamond Mine is affected as little as possible.
Our standards are designed to minimise any adverse environmental impacts resulting from our operations.
Licences and Permits
The EKATI Diamond Mine obtained various licences, permits, leases and authorisations during the regulatory phase of development. The regulatory processes were the most extensive seen in the Northwest Territories (NWT) to that date. (In Canada only uranium mines receive more attention.) Key regulatory instruments (PDF) included:
- Class "A" and "B" Water Licences.
- Fisheries Authorisations
- Navigable Waters Protection Act Authorisation.
- Land leases, and
- Land Use Permit.
In addition to the regulatory requirements, an Environmental Agreement (PDF) was negotiated with the Governments of Canada and the NWT to address environmental concerns that were not covered by existing legislation and regulation.
All the above serve to ensure that all aspects of land and water use are strictly overseen by government regulators, monitored by non-government agencies, and carefully managed by BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc.
Environmental Management
Environmental stewardship of land and water at the EKATI Diamond Mine is governed by an operational environmental management plan, part of which includes effects-monitoring programs for wildlife and aquatics where traditional ecological and scientific knowledge complement each other. The monitoring results are reported annually. To date, there have been no significant adverse effects.
Wildlife
The region provides habitat for a number of large and small mammals. The Bathurst caribou herd migrates through the area during spring and fall/autumn. Grizzly bears, wolves, wolverine, arctic fox and red fox forage and den in the area. Other inhabitants include small mammals such as ground squirrels and arctic hares.
Ptarmigan and ravens are the only year-round resident birds. In the summer, raptors such as golden eagles, short-earred owls, hawks, peregrine falcons and gyrfalcons can be seen in the vicinity. Numerous perching birds and waterfowl nest around the mine but leave upon the approach of winter.
Fish species include lake trout, round whitefish, Arctic grayling, slimy sculpin, burbot and longnose sucker.
A 3.5-kilometre diversion channel moves water around the Panda and Koala pits, allowing fish passage and providing fish habitat.
Vegetation
Vegetation in the area includes water sedges, cotton grasses, dwarf birch, willows, Labrador tea, green alder and lichens. Berries abound, including crowberries, cranberries, blueberries, cloudberries and bearberries.
Traditional knowledge
At the EKATI Diamond Mine, we support traditional knowledge studies conducted by Aboriginal groups and incorporate it into our plans for monitoring and mitigating the impact of exploration and mining in the area.
Throughout the exploration, development and construction of the EKATI Diamond Mine, BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. met with members of the surrounding Aboriginal and local communities, conducting site visits for community residents, and encouraging discussion and information exchanges on land use, potential employment and mine operations.
Through discussions with all the Aboriginal groups who historically shared the Lac de Gras area (Dogrib Treaty 11 Council, Akaitcho Treaty 8, North Slave Metis Alliance and the Inuit of Kugluktuk with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association), voluntary Impact and Benefits Agreements (IBAs) were entered into with each group for employment, training, scholarships, community involvement, business opportunities, environmental mitigation, cultural sensitivity and traditional knowledge studies.
Communities affected by the project as defined by the Environmental Assessment Review Panel (EARP) are Yellowknife, the Dogrib communities of Rae-Edzo, Wekweti, Wha Ti, and Gameti, the Metis of the North Slave Region, the Akaitcho Treaty 8 communities of Lutsel k'e, Dettah, N'dilo and the Inuit community of Kugluktuk.
BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. continues to meet with the local and Aboriginal communities as well as local and the Government of the Northwest Territories, as part of our ongoing commitments under the Socio-Economic Agreement, Environment Agreement and IBAs.
We encourage employees to become involved in their communities and contribute their time to promote community wellbeing. Through the EKATI Diamond Mine Community Partnership Program (PDF), contributions are made to charities that promote literacy, health and safety for families. The program also supports cultural and sporting activities throughout the Northwest Territories.
Brochure: Community Relations (PDF)
Contact BHP Billiton Diamonds:Contact one of our offices below if you would like more information. If you are interested in working at the EKATI Diamond Mine, please view People and Employment .
EKATI Diamond Mine
Phone: (1 867) 880-2200
Fax: (1 867) 880-4602
Yellowknife Office
BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc.
# 1102, 4920-52nd Street
Yellowknife, NT,
Canada X1A 3T1
Phone: (1 867) 669-6100
Fax: (1 867) 669-9293
Vancouver Office
BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc.
# 2300, 1111 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC,
Canada V6E 4M3
Phone: ( 1 604) 605-8666
Fax: ( 1 604) 681-5736
Antwerp Office
BHP Billiton Diamonds (Belgium) N.V.
Hoveniersstraat 30, Box 263-268
10th Floor
2018 Antwerpen
Belgium
Phone: (32 3) 201 10 90
Fax: (32 3) 213 08 46
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