Fire Halts Operations at Stornoway Mine

RAPAPORT... Stornoway Diamond Corporation has suspended operations atthe Renard mine in Canada due to a local forest fire.The blaze had reached within 100 meters of the mine's accessroad as of 6:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) Monday, Stornoway said. It was also3.6 kilometers south of the Clarence and Abel Swallow Airport, whichserves the project site, though it was still 12.6 kilometers south of themine itself. "While mine facilities are in no immediate danger, thelocation of the fire means that access to the site is affected," the companyexplained. "For precautionary reasons, non-essential staff are being evacuatedand road deliveries suspended until normal safe working conditions can be reestablished."Northerly winds are causing the fire to spread. There is likelyto be rain and a change in wind direction in the next 24 to 48 hours, accordingto forecasts, Stornoway said Monday. Stornoway owns 100% of the Renard mine, where production began in July 2016.Image: Stornoway Diamond Corporation/Facebook