Aurcana has received the final water discharge permit for its Shafter Silver mine in Texas, US, allowing the mine to increase operations from 900t a day to 1,500t a day.

The firm has now secured all the required permits to start production at the Shafter mine.

Mobilisation of the second set of mining equipment will start in December.

Ball mill will be installed on pedestal this month, with thickener and leach tanks scheduled to be completed in December.

The construction of the mine is scheduled to be completed in May 2012 and production is expected to start within six months.

Aurcana has estimated that the Shafter mine will produce 3.8Moz silver in the first year of operation.