By Deborah Bacal
Proactive Investors (USA & Canada)
SilverCrest Mines (NYSE MKT:SVLC) (TSE:SVL) is on budget with the expansion plan at its Santa Elena mine in Mexico that is expected to bring the miner to the ranks of a mid-tier producer, with plans to start up the mill later this month, the company said Monday.
The inital start up of the 3,000 tonne per day operation is expected later in April, with the new processing plant already 96% completed as final electrical and piping work is being tested over the next two weeks, SilverCrest told investors in a statement this morning.
“We are pleased with the final stages of the Santa Elena Expansion Plan which will significantly increase our precious metal production starting in mid-2014,” said president and COO of the silver and gold miner, N. Eric Fier.