An ensuing investigation by the ECCC revealed that up to 1,125 litres of diesel spilled during a fuel transfer between two above-ground storage tanks.
However, a spill report from at the time suggested that more than five times that quantity of diesel had actually been spilled. The report said a mine attendant had forgotten to close a tank outlet valve ahead of a shift change while trying to transfer the diesel from one tank to another.
Under the Environmental Protection Act, this incident would cost De Beers a fine of between C$100,000 and C$4 million.
On July 25, 2022, De Beers pleaded guilty to one offence under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and was sentenced to a C$350,000 fine in Yellowknife Territorial Court. The fine will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund to support projects that benefit the natural environment.
As a result of this conviction, the company’s name will…
