Vancouver-based Silver X has begun commissioning a processing plant for its Nueva Recuperada silver mine in Peru which will increase polymetallic production to 720 tonnes per day.

The company received environmental permit approval, and is now installing a new crushing circuit and flotation cells.

Full commissioning, which will see a 20% increase in current production, will occur before the end of the year, Silver X said. Silver X is targeting annual silver production of 5 million ounces by 2024.

Silver X is updating the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment to expand its processing plant capacity to 2,500 tpd, it said October 6. It is also aiming to create a new 8 million-square-meter capacity tailings storage facility.

The updated ESIA will be submitted to regulatory authorities in May 2022, the company said. It expects approval to be granted in 2023.

The acquisition of the Tangana concessions has created the need for a higher-capacity plant, the company said. Production from Tangana 1 & 2 veins will provide the feed for the expanded capacity of the plant. The company aims to begin production in the first quarter of 2022.

The company will start providing quarterly production guidance early next year.