The Diavik Diamond Mine is located 170 miles (279 kilometers) from Yellowknife on an island measuring 8 square miles (20 square kilometers) in Lac de Gras, Canada. It has been in operation since 2000 and has been producing rough diamonds commercially since January 2003. It is one of the largest diamond mines in the world.

The diamond mine is expected to cease operations by the end of 2026 and will close completely three years later.

In preparation for this route, Rio Tinto - the mining company that manages it - is converting the mine into a solar farm, creating a clean source of energy. This will be the largest solar power plant in Canada.

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Diamond mine is about to end its operation. Photo: EV

Rio Tinto has completed the installation of 3.5 MW of solar panels. The solar plant will provide up to 25% of the mine’s electricity during the pre-closure phase, generating electricity from sunlight as well as light reflected from snow.

With 6,620 panels, the solar farm generates 4.2 million kWh of electricity per year. The clean electricity generated will save 1 million liters of diesel fuel per year in Diavik, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2,900 tons of CO2. This is equivalent to removing 630 cars from the road each year.

The project is supported by CAD 3.3 million from the government's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Investment Grant Program.

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Solar panels are installed. Photo: EV

Matthew Breen, mine chief executive, said the solar power plant is the company's latest commitment to the environment, improving energy efficiency in mining operations at the Diavik mine.

The solar project complements the Diavik wind farm, which has been operational since 2012. It is the largest wind farm in northern Canada, generating more than 195 million kWh of electricity since it began operations.

Rio Tinto Group is a multinational company that aims to reduce its scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

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