Stornoway to restart Renard diamond mine after wildfire threat eases

The company says rainfall and shifting wind over the past 48 hours have helped contain the fires that threatened an access road and airport near the mine. (Photo: Stornoway Diamond Corporation/Facebook)

LONGUEUIL, Que.  —  Stornoway Diamond Corp. says it expects to reopen its Renard diamond mine Wednesday after suspending operations two days earlier because of a wildfire.

The company says rainfall and shifting wind over the past 48 hours have helped contain the fires that threatened an access road and airport near the mine.

Stornoway said Monday that it would shut down operations because the fire was 3.6 kilometres south the Clarence and Abel Swallow Airport and within 100 metres of the mine’s access road.

The company said the 10,800-hectare fire was 12.6 kilometres south of the mine itself when it decided to shut operations as a precaution because of access issues.

Stornoway says it acknowledges the support and collaboration it has received from employees and from Quebec’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Societe de protection des forets contre le feu during the wildfire threat.

Renard is Quebec’s first producing diamond mine, located 350 kilometres north of Chibougamau in the James Bay region of north-central Quebec.