Point Lake Project
The Point Lake Project is located approximately three kilometers northeast of Misery Camp. The site is of historical significance to the mining industry in Canada, as the first diamondiferous kimberlite discovered in the Northwest Territories. Today, Point Lake represents one of the bridges to Ekati’s future and adds 24 million carats to its indicated resources. The project is currently in on hold pending record-low global diamond prices and challenging market conditions.
The former lake was dewatered in two phases. As part of this process, a total of 523 lake trout and 6,348 slimy sculpins were fished out prior to dewatering. The water was then pumped into King Pond Settling Facility and Lynx pit to provide an area for the suspended solids to settle and to facilitate the future underwater remote mining trial at Lynx pit.
Sustainable Design
Construction of the overburden and waste rock storage area (WRSA) began in March 2024. The WRSA layout was designed in collaboration with community members to ensure minimal impact on caribou moving through the area, with additional environmental and sustainability considerations given to how water seeping through the rock pile will be collected and tested, and how the rock pile will be handled at the closure of Ekati mine.
Stakeholder Engagement
Burgundy has collaborated and engaged with local communities and regulators to earn supports to extend Ekati’s mine life, while continuing to provide benefits to the North, through the Point Lake Project. Burgundy is committed to executing the project in the most environmentally responsible and sustainable way, and continuing to work with communities and regulators to ensure that all questions and potential concerns are addressed.
Wildlife Effects Monitoring Program
Burgundy continues to mitigate the impacts to wildlife through its Wildlife Effects Monitoring Program. Traditional Knowledge holders have shared important information about caribou in the area and the relationship with the surrounding environment, which has been incorporated into our wildlife management programs. Behavioral surveys of groups of caribou, as well as focal surveys on individual caribou, are taken throughout the year near the mine. At Point Lake, caribou movement is monitored in the work area. Presently, caribou movement through the area has been undisturbed and caribou continue to pass over the Lac du Sauvage Road. Burgundy’ Caribou Road Mitigation Plan will be developed to guide mitigation and monitoring when caribou are in proximity to the mine and near roads, including reduced speed limits and road closure triggers. Motion triggered cameras are placed along active haul roads to help assess road permeability to caribou movement and evaluate the usage of the constructed caribou crossing ramps.
