Top Russian independent producer Lukoil will push ahead with diamond mining projects despite the collapse of a planned joint venture with global diamond giant De Beers. Lukoil said it plans to drill 11 wells in the Verkhotinskaya area of Arkhangelsk, home to one of the biggest undeveloped kimber-lites - rock formations where diamonds are found - which is thought to contain about 67 million carats of diamonds. Lukoil has already signed a contract with a French service firm to carry out the work, a company representative told International Oil Daily.
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