In 2017, the company allocated Rb4.4 billion (US$70 million) for environmental projects.
One significant project was the restoration of sewage treatment facilities, with a capacity of 15,000m3 per day, in the town of Udachny in Western Yakutia, Russia. In this area, Alrosa's Udachny Mining and Processing Division is in charge of the Udachny underground mine, Zarnitsa open-pit and two placer deposits - Dellyuvialnaya and Ruchey Piropovy.
The environmental project was of strategic importance for the fishery area, where local rivers require special protection. Restoration of sewage treatment facilities in Udachny allowed additional cleaning of sewage waters from organic pollution to comply with the threshold level values of the fisheries' water reservoirs.
Alrosa also worked on constructing a centre for pumping quarry and drainage waters from its Internatsional underground mine in Mirny, Yakutia.
In order to prevent penetration of mineralised water into the landscape and surface water objects, a return pumping complex and pressure wells network were built. According to Alrosa, underground water from the Metegero-Ichersky underground reservoir can now be returned without harming the environment.
As part of the programmes, emphasis was also put on combating illegal hunting or fishing, in order to preserve the region's biodiversity.
Alrosa has also created an environmental centre that centralises the company's environmental protection functions and has developed a unified approach to solving problems in the field of environmental protection.
The new unit will develop an environmental plan for further integration into the overall development strategy of the company.
In 2017, the company also significantly expanded its environmental monitoring programme. The company's ecologists took about 1,500 samples of water, air, soil and bed deposits. This helps Alrosa determine the degree of the industry's impact on the environment and adjust its environmental policy.
In 2018, the company will increase financing for environmental activities to Rb5.3 billion.
