L and M Mining's Earnscleugh flats operation is expected to be running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by the end of the month.
L and M Group financial controller Shirley Herridge said the mine had been operating over 24 hours for five days a week sincer July 19 and at this stage the company was happy with progress made.
Mining began in earnest there in December last year.
Mine manager Mark Coleman, of Cromwell, said he was working through what sort of impact operating for 24 hours over seven days would have on staff numbers.
He expected to know those details early next week.
L and M was first granted consents to mine at Earnscleugh in 2001, but the project was put on hold pending an Environment Court appeal and because of low gold prices at that time.
As part of consent conditions, L and M had to continuously monitor air and water quality at and around the mine pit, and present its findings to the Earnscleugh Project Liaison Committee.
The committee comprises 11 local residents, as well as representatives from L and M, environmental monitoring and mining contractors, the Department of Conservation and Central Otago District Council.
