AngloGold Ashanti’s redevelopment and modernisation of Obuasi in Ghana to be “Africa’s next generation gold mine” has continued with a big order for non-battery-electric underground mining equipment.
Swedish supplier Sandvik says it is supplying Obuasi with 27 machines – diesel trucks, loaders and drills – with deliveries starting this month and going through next year.
Obuasi produced gold from 1897 until AngloGold Ashanti suspended production in 2014.
A 2017 feasibility study indicated remaining gold resources could underpin a 20-year underground mine and AngloGold Ashanti began a US$545 million redevelopment project in late 2018. Annual production is forecast to average 350,000-400,000 ounces for the next decade before ramping up to 400,000-450,000oz the following decade, at AISC around US$800/oz.
“This is a world-class orebody that continues to have huge potential after more than a century of mining,” said Obuasi mine managing director, Eric Asubonteng.
“Our focus remains to turn this world-class orebody into a world-class mine.
“We were fairly manual in how we mined until 2014, but now we’re becoming fully mechanised and that is key in sustaining our productivity moving forward.”
