A.G.A Obuasi mine: Rebuilding the future through sustainability

A BRIEF NOTE ABOUT OBUASI

Obuasi is located in the Ashanti region of southern Ghana, approximately 80km south of Kumasi and some 320km north-west of the capital Accra.

It is primarily an underground mine operating at depths of up to 1,500m with a continuous history of mining dating back to the 1890s.

The mine is situated in a largely forested region, with surrounding land occupied by subsistence farmers. The mining concession covers an area of 47.5ha. Eighty communities lie within a 30km radius of the mine.

THE FUTURE

AngloGold Ashanti is working on a development plan to rebuild Obuasi into a viable long-life mining business with an attractive cost structure and returns. The goal of the development plan for Obuasi is to establish a more focused, efficient, mechanised high-grade operation, while meeting AngloGold Ashanti’s investment criteria. The feasibility study is the critical step undertaken toward breathing new life into the mine, which would lead to much greater contributions for the local economy.

SUSTAINABILITY

AngloGold Ashanti has made an ongoing contribution to a range of sustainability and community-related areas in Obuasi over the last several years. This contribution includes a leading regional malaria control programme, water treatment projects, electricity provision and primary healthcare for people in the area. At the same time, despite a very difficult market for the global mining industry, Anglogold Ashanti continues to invest significant time, skill and financial resources in building the case of the Obuasi Mine’s redevelopment into a much needed, long-term contributor to the local, regional and national economies. This work continues.