Ximen president and chief executive Christopher Anderson said workers at the site in the Nelson mining camp are placing screening above the portal site and overburden excavation has started so that the steel culvert can be installed.

The next step will be the completion of mine service installation, including air and water lines, and subsequent connections to the underground workings.

Ximen is currently awaiting regulatory approval of the mine's new underground development programme; that will come once the portal and services phase has been wrapped up.

Kenville, west of Nelson in the West Kootenay region, has an expected life span of more than 20 years.

In addition to Kenville, Ximen Mining also owns three precious metal projects in southern BC, the Amelia gold mine, the Brett Epithermal gold project and the Treasure Mountain silver project.