Canada-based Kinross Gold has commissioned the third ball mill at its Paracatu expansion plant in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The ore feed rate is currently at about 60% and is expected to ramp up to 100% in the third quarter of this year.
The company said its South America Region remains on target to produce an expected 1,000,000 to 1,070,000 gold equivalent ounces in 2011.
The third ball mill is expected to enhance plant throughput at Paracatu as the mine encounters harder sections of the orebody.
According to the company, a fourth ball mill remains on schedule and is expected to be operational in the first half of 2012.