Bateman eyes Lomonosov diamond mine contract – source

Bateman Engineering NV expects to land the contract to build the second stage of a diamond mine at the Lomonosov field, which is being developed by OJSC Severalmaz in the
Arkhangelsk region, a diamond industry source told Interfax.

An international arbitration court in the summer ordered Alrosa (RTS: ALRS), Russia’s Yakutia-based diamond monopoly which owns Severalmaz, to pay Bateman $8.2 million in compensation for terminating a contract to build a recovery plant in Yakutia. The parties have agreed that Bateman will receive the right to participate in future Alrosa projects instead of cash compensation.

The source said Bateman was expecting to get this particular project, to build the second stage of the Lomonosov complex.

The Alrosa Investment Group, which is in charge of the Lomonosov project, said the general contractor for stage two would be selected at a tender and that no decisions had yet been reached.

“A public construction tender has been announced. Leading international companies specializing in building facilities like this have expressed an interest. We have every reason to expect quality bids from tender participants and it is on the basis of these bids that the
winner will be named,” said Andrei Polyakov, a representative of the investment group.