Alrosa's diamond reserves last year increased by around 35.8 million carats, partly as a result of exploration of the Ebelyakh and Gusiny placers, the company's executive committee was told.
Alrosa reported in November last year that it has diamond reserves, proven and probable in Russia, of 630.6 million carats.
The miner began exploration of the Dalnyaya pipe, and continued operations at its Verkhne-Munskoe, Mayskoe and Zarnitsa deposits.
Diamond prospecting and valuation of the potential of explored areas were also carried out on 25 locations, the board stated.
The executive committee is also considering reforming Alrosa's cutting and polishing operations, including its production facilities in Moscow, Brillianty Alrosa, and those in Barnaul and Oryol.
The key task of Alrosa's cutting and polishing complex is to obtain information on the current polished diamond market situation and the way it affects rough diamond market developments, the firm said.
A gradual transfer of polishing facilities for small and medium-size rough diamonds from Moscow to Oryol and Barnaul is being proposed to optimize the cutting and polishing complex. The technical upgrade and advanced training for cutting staff programs will be worked out for Oryol-ALROSA and the Barnaul Kristall factory. Another proposal is the possibility of bringing in a strategic investor in the operation of Barnaul factory.
Brillianty Alrosa will concentrate upon the manufacturing of high-quality and fancy colored polished diamonds.