public hearings into Gahcho Kue project conclude in the Northwest Territories

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YELLOWKNIFE, Dec. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - Economic benefits for the Northwest
Territories and Canada, a comprehensive environmental plan and
extensive engagement with communities and regulators drew praise from
both government and a number of Aboriginal groups that attended five
days of public hearings into the proposed Gahcho Kue Project, 280km
northeast of Yellowknife.


Gahcho Kue, a joint venture of De Beers and Mountain Province Diamonds,
began the Environmental Impact Review process in 2006. In December
2011, an 11,000 page Environmental Impact Statement was submitted to
the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board. The Gahcho Kue
Panel struck by the Board held community and public hearings in Dettah,
Lutsel K'e and Yellowknife between November 30 and December 7.


De Beers Canada Chief Operating Officer Glen Koropchuk, who provided
opening remarks at the Yellowknife hearings on behalf of the Gahcho Kue
JV, said the years of working collaboratively with the local
communities near the Gahcho Kue site helped shape the project design.
"We are confident that the Project is not only technically sound, but
also reflects our commitment to sustainable development by listening to
our community partners and incorporating key input that makes this
project viable and respects local priorities."


The proposed Gahcho Kue Project comes at a time when the GDP of the
Northwest Territories has started to decline due to the reduced output
from the territories' two oldest diamond producers.


Mountain Province Diamonds President & CEO Patrick Evans said: "Since
the discovery of Gahcho Kue 20 years ago, more than $200 million has
been invested in exploration, social and environmental studies,
engineering design, feasibility studies and consultation. This reflects
an extraordinary commitment on the part of our shareholders to the
people and diamond industry of Canada's Northwest Territories. Last
week's public hearings mark an important milestone towards the
development of Canada's next great diamond mine. The successful
permitting of Gahcho Kue will secure the Northwest Territories'
position as one of the world's leading diamond producing regions".


During the hearings, a groundbreaking collaborative monitoring forum, Ni Hadi Yati, was proposed jointly by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Lutsel K'e
Dene First Nation, Deninu K'ue First Nation, Tlicho Government and De
Beers. This forum would be funded by the Gahcho Kue JV and is proposed
to provide increased capacity to Aboriginal groups to improve
understanding and involvement in environmental monitoring programs. The
North Slave Metis Alliance and NWT Metis Nation have also been invited
to participate.


De Beers and Mountain Province Diamonds wish to thank all those that
participated in the public hearings and throughout the Environmental
Impact Review process and look forward to a positive report from the
Gahcho Kue Panel of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review
Board.

















About De Beers Group:


De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. Established
in 1888, De Beers is the world's leading diamond company with
unrivalled expertise in the exploration, mining and marketing of
diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers employs
approximately 16,000 people across the diamond pipeline, and is the
world's largest diamond producer by value, with mining operations in
Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. As part of the company's
operating philosophy, the people of De Beers are committed to Living up to Diamonds by making a lasting contribution to the communities in which they live
and work, and transforming natural resources into shared national
wealth. De Beers operates two mines in Canada, the underground Snap
Lake Mine in the Northwest Territories and the open pit Victor Mine in
northern Ontario.


About Mountain Province Diamonds:


Gahcho Kue is the world's largest and richest new diamond mine. Mountain
Province is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kue JV
located at Kennady Lake in Canada's Northwest Territories. The Gahcho
Kue Project consists of a cluster of four diamondiferous kimberlites,
three of which have a probable mineral reserve of 31.3 million tonnes
grading 1.57 carats per tonne for total diamond content of 49 million
carats. A December 2010 feasibility study filed by Mountain Province
(available on SEDAR) indicates that the Gahcho Kue project has an IRR
of 33.9%.




Background & Quotes


The proposed Gahcho Kue diamond mine is located at Kennady Lake, 280 km
northeast of Yellowknife, is a $650 million investment (2010 dollars),
which will result in important benefits to the NWT:



Two years of construction and 11 year life of mine


4.5 million carats recovered on average annually


372 jobs during operations and up to 690 FTE jobs during construction


New business opportunities for Northern and Aboriginal business


$3.9 billion dollar GDP impact to Canada, of which more than 80% will be
in the Northwest Territories



Quotes on the record from the Environmental Impact Review public
hearings in Yellowknife:



In his remarks to the Panel, Northwest Territories Premier Bob McLeod said: "The Gahcho Kue Project is important to the long-term strategic
interests of the Northwest Territories, to the continued strength of
our economy and the wellbeing of our people and communities."






North Slave Metis Alliance President Bill Enge: "…the North Slave Metis Alliance supports sustainable development, not
unfettered exploitation of their lands. And this, I'm happy to say,
appears to be the situation here where De Beers is putting in place a
sustainable mining method that we can support."






Stephen Ellis, Special Advisor to the Treaty 8 Tribal Corporation, on a
proposal to establish Ni Hadi Yati, a collaborative monitoring forum
for the Gahcho Kue Project between De Beers, the Yellowknives Dene
First Nation, Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation, Deninu K'ue First Nation
and the Tlicho Government: "We're hoping that what we're proposing will lead to better
environmental performance of the project because the First Nations will
be able to engage in a meaningful manner and influence the
environmental performance and the environmental design."














SOURCE: De Beers Canada Corporation



For further information:



Cathie Bolstad Director, External & Corporate Affairs De Beers Phone: (867) 766-7325

Patrick Evans President & CEO Mountain Province Diamonds Phone: (416) 361-3562