OREANDA-NEWS. May 23, 2012. Polyus Gold International Limited (LSE - PLGL, OTC (US) - PLZLY)("PGIL" or "the Company"), the largest gold producer in Russia, announces that it has completed an expansion project at its Titimukhta mine aimed at increasing the mine throughput from 2.2 to 2.4 million tonnes of ore per year.

The project, completed on time and within budget (USD 25 million), is an example of the low-risk cost-efficient expansion initiatives implemented by the Company at its operating mines to increase output and maximise returns. The project included the installation of a 5.0 by 7.5 metres ball mill (replacing a 2.7 by 3.6 metres ball mill), three Knelson gravity concentrators, additional CAVEX hydrocyclones, thickeners and auxiliary equipment.

Following the completion of the project, production at Titimukhta is expected to be in the range of 120-125 thousand ounces of refined gold in 2012, an increase of approximately 13% year-on-year (2011: 109 thousand ounces). Ore processing volume in 2012 is expected to be approximately 2.18 million tonnes of ore compared to 1.92 million tonnes in 2011.