One of the biggest diamond mines in the world, Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada, has made significant progress toward sustainability by producing 4.2 million kWh of renewable energy annually. This project represents a welcome change in direction toward more environmentally friendly methods at a time when mining is frequently linked to rising carbon emissions.
In Canada’s Northwest Territories, Rio Tinto, the firm that makes Diavik, recently finished building a 3.5 megawatt solar power plant. This facility, which has 6,620 solar panels, is the biggest off-grid solar project in the area and is intended to cut the mine’s yearly diesel use by one million gallons. It is anticipated that this will reduce greenhouse gas emissions annually by 2,900 tons of CO2, which is the same as removing 630 automobiles from the road.
Rio Tinto is putting up this solar power facility in anticipation of the closure of Diavik, which is anticipated to occur at the end of 2026. The solar facility will supply up to 25% of the mine’s energy requirements throughout the closing process. It will maximize power generation by using both sunlight and light reflected off snow. Diavik’s Chief Operating Officer, Matthew Breen, emphasized the company’s commitment to the environment and expressed pleasure in being the pioneer in the area for large-scale renewable energy.
In February 2024, the Whitehorse-based Solvest project started building with a CAD 3.3 million (about $2.4 million) contribution from the Northwest Territories government.
This project is a component of Rio Tinto’s larger plan to reduce its carbon footprint, which aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and a 50% reduction in worldwide Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. The switch to clean energy at Diavik shows how mining companies may continue to operate while pursuing sustainability.