“We’ve been quite public that if they were ever for sale, we’re certainly interested,” Dominion’s CEO Brendan Bell said in an interview. He said it appears “Rio Tinto is committed to the diamond space and the asset isn’t for sale.”
In a recent interview in New York, Rio Tinto’s former head of Diamonds & Minerals, Alan Davies, wouldn’t discuss the possibility of consolidation other than to say the company is looking at options to extend Diavik’s life beyond 2024.
Not Aligned
“For whatever reason, the stars haven’t aligned quite yet” for consolidation, says De Beers’ Truter. “There’s probably a bit of inevitability about it.”
Evans agrees but for now he’s focused on more nitty-gritty matters. Back at Kelvin Camp, the Hagglunds all-terrain ground vehicle has broken down and a helicopter is being discussed as the best option to ferry the executives to the Twin Otter plane waiting a few hundred meters out on the lake.
“Can’t we walk?” Comerford demands impatiently. “Let’s just walk.”
Given the melting ice, it will mean a stroll through shin-deep water. David Cox looks at him like he’s mad. “You can try.”