Alrosa’s  Executive Committee discussed “matters relating to the development of the Udachny mining and processing division (MPD)” at its meeting held yesterday, March 26th.

Under discussion were the prospects of diamond mining at Verkhne-Munskoye and Zarnitsa deposits. “The development of these deposits is a part of the company’s long-term development program that envisages the increase of production to 41 million carats,” the company said in a press release.

Particular emphasis was laid on examining options for the development of Verkhne-Munskoye deposit, located in 160 kilometers from Udachny MPD. It consists of four kimberlite pipes with aggregate mineral reserves of 65 million tons of ore.

“The accepted project provides building of a new diamond mining enterprise with annual capacity of 3 million tons of ore; ore processing will take place at the Udachny MPD’s processing plant â„–12. The ore will be transported by an all-season road using road-trains,” Alrosa said.

Mining operations are slated to begin in 2018 and reach its design capacity in 2019 at this location.

The Executive Committee also decided  to transport the ore from the Zarnitsa to the processing facilities of Udachny MPD using line-haul trains, as part of its plan to increase  mining operations.