Russia diamond mining giant ALROSA says construction of a new froth flotation line at its Aikhal operations processing plant #14 will improve recovery of diamonds from the Aikhal kimberlite feed. ALROSA is to invest around RUB 200 million to install a froth flotation (pneumoflotation) line at Plant 14 of Aikhal Division to improve beneficiation of ore from the Aikhal kimberlite pipe.

It started treating ore at Plant 14 in 2020 after the shutdown of Plant 8. However, current gravity concentrators used at Plant 14 do not allow recovery of diamond sizes of 0.5-2 mm from Aikhal ore. The company expects to start ramping up the new line in the second half of 2020. ALROSA Aikhal Division consists of Plant 14, the Jubilee open pit and the Aikhal underground mine, launched in 2005. In 2019, the division produced 10.1 million carats of diamonds (26% of the group’s total), including 2.6 million carats from the Aikhal pipe.