Alrosa Underground Mine Reaches Capacity

(IDEX Online News) – One of the world's oldest diamond mines is increasing its production. Alrosa’s Aikhal underground mine reached its design capacity of 500,000 tons of ore per year.

Open pit mining at Aikhal started in 1961 and continued more than 35 years until 1997. The next stage in the mine's life, the underground operations started that year.

The first stage of the underground mine was commissioned in 2005 and the second, with a capacity of 250,000 tons of ore, in 2009.

In the current stage, the underground mine capacity increased to 500,000 tons of ore.

Aikhal produces about 2.5 million carats annually. The Aikhal pipe reserves are estimated at more than 14 million carats, and the inferred and indicated resources are estimated at more than 54 million carats.

Alrosa is in the midst of implementing an extensive program of constructing underground mines at its deposits.

Alrosa has underground mines operations at the International underground mine and the Mir underground mine. The first stage of the Udachny underground mine is expected to be commissioned in 2014.