(IDEX Online) - Alrosa is to re-open its Severalmaz ore processing plant, as global demand returns.
The plant, which accounts for about 11 per cent of the miner's annual rough diamond output, ceased operations last October.
It was scheduled to re-open on 1 April, but that has been brought forward to 1 March as the markets recover more quickly than expected.
Processing was also suspended from May to July 2020 because of what the company described as "a slump in demand for diamonds amid the coronavirus pandemic".
Severalmaz, a subsidiary of Alrosa, produced 2.8m carats in 2020 at Lomonosov, one of the world's biggest diamond mines.
"Preparatory and repair works are underway to minimize forced shutdowns of the plant after relaunch and ensure that the planned production program is completed," said the company in a statement. "It was planned to process 3 million tons of ore in 2021."...