AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) is on track to produce the first gold ounces at its redeveloped Obuasi mine by the end of December 2019 after resumption of operation early this year.
Managing Director, Eric Asubonteng, who disclosed this, said this does not mean the company has reached the steady state production, but it is a very key milestone for AGA.
Speaking in an interview with DGN Online after presenting two pickup vehicles to police in Obuasi, Mr. Asubonteng stated that the company requires the continuous support of stakeholders, to be able to deliver on targets set.
According to him, the company needed a secure and safe environment, free from invasion by illegal miners, to operate, asserting that it is not within the anticipation of AGA to re-experience the 2016 episode in which part of the mine was invaded by illegal miners.
“That brought the mine to its knees. Where we are now, we are operating in a secure environment. We continue to rely on our partners in government and the security agencies to ensure that the peace is sustained so as to be able to redevelop the mine toward achieving first ounce of gold this year,” he noted.
The AGA MD said it is the hope of management of the company that government would continue to clamp down on illegal mining activities as the Obuasi mine is still being rebuilt and developed.
“We have done so with the full support of government to bring us to this stage. We have the full assurance of this government that we would have conducive environment that is safe and secure to operate, in order to secure the future of the mine.”
“This is what we are counting on and we will continue to work very closely with government authorities at national, regional and local levels to ensure that conducive environment is created,” he pointed out, and added that the donation we are making today is just but one of those collaborative efforts.”