The operation is adding two Epiroc drilling rigs, as well as an excavator and grader with no name badge identified. It will also be purchasing new support vehicles such as fuel trucks, mobile repair units and buses, a crane truck and a front loader for maintenance and field refueling.

Of the total investment, US$6 million is earmarked for equipment maintenance.

Nordgold said its current fleet at Taborny includes 53 heavy machines and 45 support vehicles. Mobile maintenance director Nikolai Skripkin called an investment in a modern fleet crucial to "smooth running of a large mining operation" like Taborny.

Nordgold recently announced a similar project at Taborny's sister mine Gross. The miner will spend US$20 million on that upgrade programme.

Taborny is located in the southwest of the Sakha Republic, and its openpit was launched in 2002. It produced 76,000 ounces of gold last year.