Fortescue said other infrastructure projects underway at Christmas Creek include doubling capacity of the operations village, the construction of a remote crushing hub and a 6.3km overland conveyor. There will also be a new airstrip and the power plant is being expanded. Earlier on Monday, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it had affirmed its BB-minus corporate credit rating on Fortescue Metals with a negative rating outlook. The ratings agency also lowered the issue rating on Fortescue's unsecured debt to B-plus. S&P has now removed Fortescue's credit ratings from CreditWatch with negative implications, where they were placed on September 12, 2012.