ALROSA to spend circa RUB 30 bln on environment

ALROSA, a global leader in diamond mining, will spend almost RUB 6 billion ($93.1 mln) on environment in 2019. Over a five-year period (2019-2023), the company plans to spend RUB 30 billion ($465.6 mln) on these purposes. “Last year, ALROSA’s Integrated Environmental Protection Program for 2011-2018 expired. This year, the Environmental Center presented the expanded program for 2019-2023. ALROSA will strengthen measures to protect the environment and ensure environmental safety in Yakutia. This is a part of our environmental program,” – Polina Anisimova, Head of ALROSA Environmental Center, said. 

The program envisages the protection of the environment from noise, vibration and other types of physical effects, ensuring the radiation safety of the environment, protecting the atmospheric air and reducing the negative impact on climate change. As part of water bodies’ protection, the company organizes the collection and treatment of
wastewater; there are also measures for the protection of surface and groundwater. Starting from the current year, the production control program includes studies of the wastewater quality at all industrial sites connected to centralized sewerage systems.

ALROSA plans to sign agreements for the hazardous waste disposal and neutralization. This will help to create a one-size-fits-all approach to the safe management of waste. The company will continue to increase the involvement of waste in secondary energy resources, which is expected to give not only an environmental, but also an economic effect. The management of the company made an important decision to work out the issue of safe approaches for the environment at the design stage.

There are social and ecological measures, which include signing the agreements with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the National Fund & Bargary (Revival) & the Directorate of Biological Resources and Specially Protected Natural Territories of the Ministry of Environment of Yakutia. 

The company will continue to support the unique Living Diamonds of Yakutia natural park, to expand the list of fish species for stocking the Yakut rivers. ALROSA will also sign ethnological agreement on indemnification with the Oleneksky district, and will provide recreational payments. ALROSA will also continue to organize contests, promotions, excursions and other activities to promote environmental protection and ensure environmental safety.