Project Feature: Diavik Solar

• Client: Rio Tinto

• Indigenous Partner: Tlicho Investment Corporation

• Project Completion: 2024

• Solvest Role: Construction

The Diavik Diamond Mine is Canada’s largest diamond mine, located 300 km northeast of Yellowknife. Solvest completed the construction of the largest off-grid solar project in Canada from March to June 2024, facing extreme weather conditions with strong winds and temperatures reaching colder than -30C at times. Tlicho citizens were trained in solar construction and accounted for about 25% of the workforce and provided heavy equipment operators. The solar project is expected to reduce diesel use by 1 million liters per year and reduce emissions by 2,900 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The solar plant will provide up to 25% of Diavik’s electricity during remediation activities. Rio Tinto is the world’s 2nd largest mining company.