(IDEX Online News) – Dominion Diamond Corporation has completed its assessment of the fire-damage at its Ekati Diamond Mine following a fire at its process plant on June 23.

The company said that the damage was limited to a small area with no damage to the main structural components, although it announced that repairs are expected to take approximately three months. The plant is expected to resume operations at full capacity after this date.

Dominion said that it had begun to execute a plan to reduce operating and capital costs, which will include an adjustment of mining operations to pause mining at lower priority and lower value ore bodies. The company also announced a temporary lay-off of affected staff, although it did not state how many would be affected, nor for how long.

“After taking a full and careful assessment, we are taking the most prudent course of action which delivers limited, ongoing mining of higher value ore, while also taking the necessary steps to make repairs and return to production and preserve capita,” said Dominion CEO Brendan Bell.