Alrosa Achieves Carbon-Neutral Status for its Operations and Diamonds

Russian miner Alrosa has confirmed its operations and diamonds were carbon-neutral in 2025.

This marked the second consecutive year the miner received an internationally recognized verification certificate, as it saw a further reduction in its emissions, it said Tuesday.

The mining and production facilities exceeded emissions by 126,000 tonnes more carbon dioxide equivalent than they emitted during the year, up from net absorption of 37,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2024. This resulted in the carbon footprint of its diamonds improving 60% to minus 1.18 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per carat, versus minus 0.71 kilograms the previous year. The figures apply to the company’s entire diamond production of 29.8 million carats in 2025.

“Alrosa remains the only mining company in the world to have officially confirmed carbon neutrality for both its product and operations,” said Alrosa CEO Pavel Marinychev. “We believe that industry leadership is defined not only by market position, but also by the ability to create long-term value for society and the environment. This approach should become the new industry standard.”

The miner is working to enhance kimberlite’s carbon-absorption capacity while reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency, explained Anastasia Gabrashitova, head of Alrosa’s environmental center.

“We are replacing petroleum products with a lower-carbon alternative – natural gas,” she added. “In 2025, we completed the gasification of the Udachny Mining and Processing Division and finished construction of a gas pipeline to our Nakyn site. We also continue our transition to natural gas for all operational vehicles.”

Some 76% of the electricity Alrosa consumes is generated from renewable energy sources, she continued.

The company first became carbon neutral in 2024. Prior to that, the miner collaborated with scientists to demonstrate that diamond-bearing ore – kimberlite – can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during mining activities at its Yakutia deposit and the Arkhangelsk region, it said.

TÜV AUSTRIA Standards & Compliance, an international auditing firm specializing in environmental and climate services, verified Alrosa’s 2025 carbon dioxide emissions and removals report.

Image: Rough diamond sorting. (Alrosa)