Havana, May 12 (ACN)-- The Castellanos Project, currently the largest Cuban mining investment, located in the westernmost province of Pinar del Rio, will be operational in July.

Antonio Vila, general manager of Empresa Mixta Minera del Caribe, the joint venture undertaking the work, told a high-level government delegation visiting the site that they are now in the final stage of installing the plant's equipment as well as power and water lines, with work standing at 72 percent completed.

The visiting government delegation included Vice-President Ramiro Valdes and Energy and Mining Minister Alfredo Lopez.

At a cost of 278 million U.S. dollars, the mine and the refining plant will process a million tons of lead and zinc a year when operating at full capacity.

The mine is expected to have a useful life of 11 years, but adjacent metal deposits predict yet another decade of exploitation.