The Springs-based Modder East operation of gold miner Gold One International unveiled its new R100-million processing plant expansion on November 23. The bankable feasibility study for the mine had expected it to mine 70 000 t a month, producing just over a million ounces over a nine-year life, with the mine initially designed to close in 2019. However, while the original plan had been to mine only high-grade ore, the company has now shifted its plans to also mine the lower-grade ore that the high-grade ore once surrounded. Thus, plant capacity is set to increase from its current maximum of 90 000 t a month to 120 000 t a month. Upgrading of rock handling methods to support higher plant capacity is already under way, with the mine’s production increasing from about 4 000 t/d to about 5 500 t/d.