Stornoway Achieves Full Underground Mine Design Capacity

(IDEX Online) – Stornoway Diamond Corporation said it has achieved sustained underground mine production at the Renard Diamond Mine at or above the mine’s design capacity. This marks the completion of the production ramp-up of the underground mine.

Over a 20-day period ending August 29, ore trucked to surface averaged 6,039 tonnes per day against a budgeted design capacity of 6,000 tonnes per day, the miner said. Ore production is now being sourced from 16 active draw-points developed on four mining panels at the 290m level of the Renard 2 kimberlite. Ore processing during this period averaged 7,085 tonnes per day, with underground feed supplemented with ore derived from the Renard 65 open pit, as planned.

Matt Manson, President and CEO, commented: “Completion of the underground mine ramp-up at Renard has not been without its challenges. However, today’s news is validation of the design of the project, the quality of the Renard ore bodies, and the dedication of the Renard mining team and contractors. The assisted block cave is developing well and, as expected, the grade of diamond recoveries has increased as we have moved from the initial mining panel at the margin of Renard 2 into the panels closer to the centre of the ore body. Mining and processing for the remainder of the year will be focused on ore mucked from these higher quality panels.”