Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) announced on Tuesday that it has completed the installation of a 3.5-MW solar system at its Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories, a project launched as part of its strategy to reduce diesel consumption at the site.
The plant comprises 6,620 bifacial solar panels which will produce 4.2 GWh of clean electricity annually, eliminating the consumption of one million litres of diesel per year. The project was supported by CAD 3.3 million (USD 2.40m/EUR 2.24m) in funding from the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Large Emitters GHG Reducing Investment Grant Program.
The solar facility will cover up to 25% of Diavik’s electricity during the planned closure of the mine where commercial production is expected to end in 2026, with the closing process set to run until 2029.
The solar site, which is described as the largest off-grid solar power plant across Canada’s territories, complements a wind farm at Diavik which has produced more than 1.95 GWh of power since its commissioning in 2012.
The mining firm announced plans for the solar facility in August 2023. Construction started in February 2024, contracted to Whitehorse-based Solvest Inc and the Indigenous-owned Tlicho Investment Corporation, with support from Diavik.
(CAD 1 = USD 0.729/EUR 0.679)
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