The City of Yellowknife will be feeling the effects of Diavik Diamond MineSA国际影视传媒檚 closure in 2025 as ramping down has begun.

SA国际影视传媒淲e start decommissioning our first underground pipe later this year, and surface mining ends at the beginning of next year,SA国际影视传媒� Cherish Winsor, a relations representative for Diavik said. SA国际影视传媒淲e say weSA国际影视传媒檙e closing in SA国际影视传媒�25, but thatSA国际影视传媒檚 starting now.SA国际影视传媒�

RELATED REPORTING: Rio Tinto takes full ownership of Diavik diamond mine

The closure of the mine is set to affect the Yellowknife job and economic markets in a variety of ways, according to information provided during a presentation at MondaySA国际影视传媒檚 Governance and Priorities Committee meeting

Approximately 350 Yellowknife residents were employed at the mine in 2020.

This works out to 32 per cent of DiavikSA国际影视传媒檚 workforce which, the company stated, equates to 3.6 per cent YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渆ntire employment income.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭hat translates to $20.4 million in personal disposable income, which is estimated to be about $14.3 million for YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 retail sector,SA国际影视传媒� said Amanda Annand, Diavik community adviser.

There can also be an expected impact to contributions made through Rio Tinto, sole owner of Diavik Diamond Mine, as the global mining giant has donated to city facilities such as the Stanton Territorial Hospital, the Salvation ArmySA国际影视传媒檚 Bailey House and the Native WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Association of the NWT.

RELATED REPORTING: Native WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Association NWT receives $25,000 from Rio Tinto

Behchok谦虁 will also feel repercussions as 6.9 per cent of its labour force is employed by Diavik.

The mineSA国际影视传媒檚 contribution to NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to drop to $110 million in its closing year of 2025 from $430 million in 2019.

Overall, Diavik accounts for approximately 10 per cent of territorial GDP, with $9.3 billion having been spent on the mine since 2000.

Efforts are being made to ensure a smooth transition will occur with the Closure Support Program, helping to move employees to another mine or to another Rio Tinto location. However, some skills wonSA国际影视传媒檛 necessarily be transferable, Winsor said.

SA国际影视传媒淵ouSA国际影视传媒檙e not going to go work in a port if youSA国际影视传媒檙e an underground truck driver, and most of our assets actually donSA国际影视传媒檛 have underground mines. So some of those skills wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be transferable,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hose people, if they wanted to continue the same jobs, would be better off to stay in the North and work in another mine.SA国际影视传媒�

Depending on the status of the Ekati diamond mine, 400 to 630 out-of-work Northerners are projected to leave the territory by 2030, according to MondaySA国际影视传媒檚 presentation.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be, certainly, a sad time,SA国际影视传媒� said Coun. Robin Williams. SA国际影视传媒淗opefully thereSA国际影视传媒檒l be more exploration and more opportunities in the future.SA国际影视传媒�

RELATED REPORTING: Ekati plans new open-pit project at Point Lake