Snowline Gold says it has entered into a five-year lease agreement with the Indigenous-owned Nacho Nyak Dun Development Corporation (NNDDC) that has seen it install a 27 kW solar generation system at the Rogue project in the Yukon of Canada able to reduce CO2 emissions from the Forks exploration camp.
Designed and built by Yukon-based Solvest Inc, the solar generator will dramatically reduce diesel consumption at Snowline’s 45-person camp on its Rogue project, located within the Traditional Territory of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun (FNNND).
Estimates provided by Solvest based on data collected from Snowline’s 2021 field program predict the new solar generator could save up to 12,572 litres of diesel per season, reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the camp generator by 90%.
This reduces not only fuel costs, but also the total number of flights required to support the project, resulting in a net positive impact both financially and environmentally, Snowline says. Additional benefits include the associated reduction in diesel generator operating time, which lessens camp noise to create better living standards for crew, while also lowering the potential for disturbance of local wildlife.
Installation of the solar generator system is complete, and the system is now fully operational, providing a majority of the camp’s power, according to Snowline.
“Investments such as this are examples of how Indigenous businesses are leading the way in accelerating the green economy, and innovations such as this provide opportunities for such entities to become increasingly engaged in the mineral resource sector,” Jani Djokic, CEO of NNDDC, says. “We see this investment as just the first of many of its kind and we are working towards building a fleet that can be deployed throughout the Traditional Territory.”
Steve Rennalls, Operations Manager for Snowline, said: “This project is a tangible example of how Snowline is realising our corporate vision. It increases efficiency while creating financial and environmental value. It improves our employees’ work environment, it is yet another collaborative project with the NNDDC, and it is provided by Solvest, one of the Yukon’s most innovative companies.”
Scott Berdahl, CEO and Director of Snowline, added: “We are grateful to the NNDDC and to Solvest for presenting Snowline with this opportunity to innovate. The initiative puts Snowline into another ‘first mover’ category as we look for ways to eliminate the negative and enhance the positive impacts of our exploration activities. We trust the data collected will be instrumental in allowing additional resource companies to effectively assess potential renewable energy solutions.”
Cooperation with NNDDC owned and affiliated companies has been instrumental to Snowline’s discovery successes, it says. These companies have provided substantial support to the company’s 2021 and 2022 field programs, providing general exploration services, vegetative reclamation, drilling, fixed and rotary wing air support, and other services.
Snowline is exploring its flagship >85,000 ha Einarson and Rogue gold projects in the highly prospective yet underexplored Selwyn Basin.