Burgundy Diamond Mines releases 2024 Socio-Economic Report

CALGARY, Alberta, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Burgundy Diamond Mines Limited (ASX:BDM) (Burgundy or the Company) today announced the release of its 2024 Socio-Economic (SEA) Report, highlighting the company’s achievements and progress in the areas of safety, operations and social impact, in relation to Ekati Diamond Mine.

The annual report articulates Burgundy’s commitment to aligning business practices and a mutual objective to provide economic benefits to the North, under the Mineral Resources Act requirements with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

“This report underscores our commitment to responsible mining, the collaborative relationships we maintain with our northern stakeholders and the government, and our contributions to communities through donations, sponsorships and employment opportunities,” said Kim Truter, CEO of Burgundy Diamond Mines. “As the largest G7 producer of natural diamonds, we will also continue to actively manage the environmental footprint associated with our operations and govern our business in a transparent, ethical and accountable manner, to the benefit of all our stakeholders.”

2024 Socio-Economic Highlights:

• Contributed $5.1 million across Canada’s North through Impact Benefit Agreement payments, community donations and sponsorships.
  
• Employed 1,242 individuals, including 700 employees and 542 contractors; 28% were northern, of which 60% were northern Indigenous.
  
• Spent $431 million on business expenditures of which 68% was spent with Indigenous partners and other northern businesses; Indigenous spend accounted for 49% of Burgundy’s total spend.
  
• Invested in people through safety programs, training and apprenticeships, among other initiative; 51 individuals were recognized for their innovative ideas to improve safety across our operations.
  
• Cemented Burgundy’s position as the largest G7 producer of natural diamonds, supplying 4% of global rough diamonds.
  
• Achieved 100 million carats mined over 26 years of ongoing production at Ekati Diamond Mine.

To view the full report please visit www.burgundydiamonds.com/reports-resources/.

Note: All figures presented in this release are in Canadian dollars and include performance results and metrics across all of Burgundy’s operations, including Ekati Diamond Mine, the company’s rough diamond sales office in Antwerp, Belgium and diamond cutting and polishing facility in Perth.

About Burgundy Diamond Mines Limited

Burgundy Diamond Mines is a premier independent global scale diamond company focused on capturing the end-to-end value of its unique vertically integrated business model.

Burgundy’s innovative strategy is focused on capturing margins along the full value chain of the diamond industry, including mining, production, cutting and polishing, and the sale of diamonds. By building a balanced portfolio of diamond projects in favourable jurisdictions, including the globally ranked Canadian mining asset, Ekati, and a diamond cutting and polishing facility in Perth, Burgundy has unlocked access to the full diamond value chain. This end-to-end business model with total chain of custody provides traceability along every step of the process, with Burgundy able to safeguard the ethical production of the diamonds from mining to marketing and discovery to design. Burgundy was founded in Perth, Western Australia. The company is led by a world-class management team and Board.

Caution regarding Forward Looking Information

This document contains forward looking statements concerning Burgundy Diamond Mines Limited. Forward looking statements are not statements of historical fact and actual events and results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Forward looking statements in this document are based on Burgundy's beliefs, opinions and estimates as of the dates the forward-looking statements are made, and no obligation is assumed to update forward looking statements if these beliefs, opinions or estimates should change or to reflect other future developments.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cf3ab73e-0019-4a33-82a5-2aff583edd3e

source: Burgundy Diamond Mines