Russian mining giant Alrosa has reported Q4 and FY 2017 production and preliminary trading performance. Alrosa’s diamond production totaled 39.6 million carats – up 6% year-on-year.
Rough diamond sales in the 4th quarter totaled 9.4 million carats, including 6.2 million carats of gem-quality diamonds at an average price of $139 per carat, and 3.2 million carats of industrial diamonds at an average price of $6.5 per carat. Rough diamond sales amounted to $881 million. Polished diamond sales for this period amounted to $28.7 million.
Igor Sobolev, First Vice President of Alrosa, commented: “Despite shutdown of the Mir underground mine in view of the accident in August 2017, the Company delivered on the annual diamond production plan. The key drivers for diamond production growth were higher output at the Udachny underground mine, development of the richest part of the deposit at the Jubilee pipe, increased grade at the Arkhangelskaya and Karpinskogo-1 pipes operated by Severalmaz, as well as higher production at the Botuobinskaya pipe”.
