Rio Tinto Powers Up Solar Park for Canadian Diamond Mine

Aug 11, 2023 06:37 PM ET
  • Rio Tinto - the world's second-largest miner - is launching the largest solar PV park in Canada's North to provide electricity to its diamond mine in the Northwest Territories. The project will reduce diesel consumption & GHG emissions by 50% by 2030.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) has announced plans to build the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) park in Canada's North, to provide electricity to its diamond mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The solar farm, to be installed at the miner’s Diavik mine, is expected to generate 4,200 MWh of electricity annually and will reduce diesel consumption at the mine by roughly one million litres per year. Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks, with the plant set to be switched on in the first half of 2024.

The project is being supported by the government of the Northwest Territories with CAD 3.3 million (USD 2.5m/EUR 2.2m), as well as an additional CAD-600,000 from the Canadian government through its Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit. Rio Tinto is aiming to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 and become net zero by 2050. The company currently operates a 55.4-MW wind-diesel hybrid facility at the Diavik mine.

What Will Rio Tinto Ltd. Build in Canada's North?

  • Rio Tinto Ltd will build the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) park in Canada's North
  • The park will provide electricity to its diamond mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada
  • Construction of the park is expected to begin in the coming weeks, with the plant set to be switched on in the first half of 2024
  • The project is being supported by the government of the Northwest Territories with CAD 3.3 million (USD 2.5m/EUR 2.2m), as well as an additional CAD-600,000 from the Canadian government
  • It is expected to generate 4,200 MWh of electricity annually and reduce diesel consumption at the mine by roughly one million litres per year
  • Rio Tinto is aiming to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 and become net zero by 2050
  • Rio Tinto currently operates a 55.4-MW wind-diesel hybrid facility at the Diavik mine

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