“This work is happening in a phased, carefully sequenced manner,” says Natalie Plato, Project Director. “The underground is closed, and we’ve shifted focus to above-ground decontamination and demolition. The water treatment plant is now the key project on site.” ADDRESSING THE ARSENIC CHALLENGE WITH INNOVATIVE FREEZE TECHNOLOGY Central to the remediation is the long-term containment of 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide stored underground. The solution lies in passive freeze technology, utilizing thermosyphons—metal tubes filled with pressurized carbon dioxide—to draw heat from the ground. This cycle requires no external energy and maintains underground temperatures at or below -5°C. “Once the freeze is in place, the arsenic trioxide will remain in a stable, frozen state indefinitely,” explains Plato. “And to ensure it stays that way, we’ve installed thermistors to monitor temperatures and can intervene if thawing ever becomes a risk.” THE CHALLENGE OF COMPLEXITY: COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION The scale and complexity of the project require constant coordination across numerous federal departments, contractor teams, and community stakeholders. Plato emphasizes that beyond Building what matters to enable future generations to thrive. Aecon is proud to contribute to the wider remediation project at Giant Mine, working collaboratively with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Parsons Inc. and local Indigenous Communities to help protect community health and support long-term environmental safety in Yellowknife. 29 AUG 2025 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA
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