Marking a significant milestone, Rio Tinto celebrated 20 years of diamond production at its Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories.
The journey commenced with the discovery of the Diavik diamond deposit during the largest mineral prospecting rush in Canadian history in the 1990s.
Officially, commercial production began in 2003 and over the past two decades, the mine has yielded over 140 million carats of rough diamonds, unveiling a rich reservoir of predominantly white gem quality diamonds, with a marginal production of less than 1% of yellow diamonds.
Overcoming Nature’s Challenges
Situated 220 km from the Arctic Circle in the Barren Lands, the Diavik diamonds rest beneath a frozen lake, demanding significant technological innovation and determination to recover them from the rigid permafrost.
The $31 million project witnessed the development of award-winning dike technology to combat the waters of Lac De Gras, and a seasonal ice road, which remains operational eight weeks per year, acting as a crucial supply channel for the mine’s workforce.
Noteworthy is the mine’s wind farm, a pioneering venture that on strong wind days, caters to half of the site’s energy needs, marking Diavik as the operator of the world’s largest wind-diesel hybrid power facility, leading in cold climate renewable energy solutions.
Community Engagement and Sustainable Practices
From its inception, the Diavik mine has engaged with local communities to gauge the operation’s impact, fostering partnerships with five indigenous groups through Diavik Participation Agreements. Angela Bigg, President of the Diavik diamond mine, emphasized the value of these partnerships, stating, “Being allowed to mine is a privilege and we honour that by working respectfully and through a sense of shared endeavour with our local partners.”
This engagement has spurred employment, training, and capacity-building opportunities, with almost a quarter of Diavik’s workforce being Indigenous and about 40% being Northern.
Economic Contributions
Over the years, the economic ripple effect of Diavik’s operations has been substantial. Since 2000, around $7 billion has been spent with Northern businesses, constituting roughly 72% of the total business expenditure of $9.8 billion. A significant portion of this, $3.6 billion, has been channeled to Northern Indigenous businesses and their joint ventures.
Future Outlook
The remarkable achievements at Diavik over the past two decades resonate well with Sinead Kaufman, Chief Executive Minerals, Rio Tinto’s sentiment, who acknowledged Diavik’s “pioneering spirit” and its continued stride towards setting new benchmarks in technology, partnerships, and sustainability.
As Diavik steps into its third decade, its narrative of overcoming formidable natural challenges, fostering community partnerships, and driving sustainability sets a robust foundation for the chapters ahead.
