IDEX Online) - Alrosa says it has resumed mining at its Zarya kimberlite pipe for the first time in 16 months.
The new 300-meter deep deposit in Yakutia, eastern Russia, cost $188m and is one of the company's biggest investment projects in recent years.
Alrosa announced on its Telegram channel that the processing plant re-opened earlier this month.
Zarya pipe produced 38,000 carats, in 2019 and 257,000 carats in 2020.
It was responsible for just 0.9 per cent of the group's total output, was put on care in maintenance in May 2020.
Alrosa said Zarya was among its lower margin mines due to the quality characteristics of its stones.
Demand for Russian diamonds remains high, despite attempts by the US to sanction its output and moves by individual jewelry retailers to blacklist the country.
Pic shows Zarya, courtesy Alrosa