Alrosa Group invests RUB 2 billion in innovation and technology in 2015

In 2015, Alrosa Group invested over RUB 2 billion towards innovation development and technological upgrade. This investment as per the company allowed the company to increase diamond production, cut material costs and reduce environmental damage.

In 2015, under the Program for Innovation Development, Alrosa Group implemented new technologies for prospecting and exploration of diamond deposits using airborne electromagnetic mapping to identify geophysical anomalies and diamond-bearing deposits. New technologies were also implemented at operating facilities to increase diamond production and processing. In particular, chamber mining with drill and blast excavation technologies were mastered at Mir deposit, and new processing plants operating on a new principle using x-ray and laser radiation were implemented.

Automation of rough diamond sorting, automated systems for sorting by color, size, quality, and presence of internal defects, are installed and operating at the enterprises. The laser system DCS-300 has delivered a new level of quality in rough diamond processing, in which natural rough diamonds are processed with pinpoint precision.

Last year, the company also carried out conversion of industrial machinery and motor transport to natural gas motor fuel and scaled down negative environmental impact. Its employees were active in the development of innovation technologies and implementation of innovative proposals. Thirty-six innovative projects participated in the Company’s open competition of innovative projects.

The investments by the company applied towards research and development, design and experimental, and engineering and technical projects, staff training and target training for students, geologic exploration, and capital expenditure on construction, reconstruction, upgrade of facilities and technical re-equipment of enterprises.