With reference to its Verkhne-Munskoe deposit development project ALROSA has expressed its commitment to “the preservation of traditional way of life of indigenous minorities of the North and maintenance of biological diversity of local ecosystems”. One of the measures in pursuit of this goal is the support extended by ALROSA to the reindeer protection programme.

As the approach road to the Verkhne-Munskoe diamond deposit passes through the territory where the Leno-olenekskaya tundra population of wild reindeer abound, ALROSA has resolved to make the best possible arrangements to ensure that the reindeer can move effortlessly from pasture to pasture, while at the same time maintaining a “continuous development of the deposit”. For this, the Company is arranging special radio-collars for reindeers.

“For the first time the most important research into the reindeer population and migration have been carried out for the implementation of this ecological programme,” ALROSA noted. “Ecologists have obtained more accurate information about the periods of spring and autumn migration of wild reindeer in the area of the road to Munskoe deposit. The exact number of reindeers migrating in the area was established. The main points where most reindeers cross the road were fixed and adjusted to their GPS-coordinates. It was necessary for the creation of crossings with gentler slopes. The chance of collision of animals and people has been minimized.”

“Such an experiment is the first in Russia, and it was launched in Yakutia,” said Alexander Fedorov, ALROSA’s Deputy Chief Engineer for Environmental Protection. “Similar measures are being implemented by ALROSA’s Udachny Mining and Processing Division that finances flying around the areas of reindeers’ location coordinates and assessing their condition. According to the Mining and Processing Division’s current procedures, when scientists report that reindeers have entered the division production area or started crossing the site access road, the division is brought to a standstill so as to ensure that reindeers pass freely through the industrial territory.”