Diavik diamond mine marks last day of production in N.W.T.
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Global mining giant Rio Tinto has marked the last day of production at its Diavik diamond mine in the Northwest Territories.
The closure has been long planned as the mine approached the end of its productive life.
Diavik, 220 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle, produced more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds over its 23 years of operation. Though diamond production has wound down, closure activities are set to continue until 2029.
“This is a historic day for Diavik and the Northwest Territories and a great source of pride for this unique Canadian success story,” said Diavik chief operating officer Matthew Breen in a news release.
The final production of rough diamonds from Diavik are to be polished and sold through 2026 and beyond.
Two other diamond mines are operating in the territory: the Gahcho Kué mine owned by De Beers and Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. and the Ekati mine owned by Australia-based Burgundy Diamond Mines Ltd.
The growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds has cut into the profitability of those operations, and the Northwest Territories government has been working to diversify its economy into new sectors, like critical minerals.
“Diavik helped build today’s Northwest Territories, but now our focus is firmly on tomorrow,” N.W.T. Premier R.J. Simpson said in a news release Thursday.
“This closure is a turning point, and our government is taking action to ensure Northerners are supported through it. We are working with industry, Indigenous governments, and the federal government to connect workers to new opportunities, accelerate major projects, and attract the next generation of investment to the territory.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 26, 2026.