WELLINGTON, March 10 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's next major mining operation is set to begin commercial production by 2026, toward the government's goal of doubling mineral export revenue to 3 billion NZ dollars (1.71 billion U.S. dollars) by 2035.

The operation will create 250 jobs and contribute 350 million NZ dollars to the goal, Resources Minister Shane Jones said on Monday.

The Snowy River underground gold mine in Reefton in the South Island, operated by Federation Mining, aims to start gold production following nearly 25,000m of exploration drilling, Jones said.

The project is now focused on developing its processing plant, with construction set to begin in mid-2025, employing more than 160 workers over the next year.

In February alone, the project injected 2.9 million NZ dollars into New Zealand's regional economy, with 1 million NZ dollars directly benefiting the West Coast, Jones said. (1 NZ dollar equals 0.57 U.S. dollar) Enditem

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