Alrosa has approved a major investment project to develop the deep horizons of the Udachnaya pipe, one of the world’s largest diamond deposits, extending the mine’s operations until at least 2055. The project will see annual production of more than 4 million tons of diamond-bearing ore, with total investments estimated at 20 billion rubles.
The development will reach depths of up to 1.13 km below the surface, down to an absolute level of -780 m. Construction will run in parallel with ongoing deepening of mining operations and is expected to continue until 2040, with the overall project scheduled for completion no earlier than 2055. The previous phase of testing the Udachnaya pipe was completed in 2039 at -680 m.
Pavel Marinychev, CEO of Alrosa, said, “This investment will significantly extend the life of a field that currently produces over 10% of Russian diamonds. From 2025 to 2055, we expect to produce 4.1 million tons of ore annually, generating profits of nearly 6 billion rubles a year.”
The project has already received all necessary approvals from Glavgosexpertiza, and its technical and economic assessment (TEO) has been sanctioned. Development will follow established safe and effective mining technologies, while introducing innovative digital systems. Artificial intelligence is already being used to monitor mine truck loading and conveyor conditions, and remote-controlled systems are in place for crushing oversized ore.
The Udachnaya pipe, discovered in 1955 in Yakutia’s Mirny district, is one of the most prominent diamond deposits worldwide. Open-pit mining began in 1967, and the underground Udachny mine was launched in 2014 to access deeper horizons. The Udachninsky GOK, which includes the underground mine, remains a city-forming enterprise for Udachny, employing over 1,200 workers. Current reserves have been explored to depths of 1,635 meters.