Obuasi Gold Mine | |
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Obuasi Gold Mine
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Location | Obuasi |
Region | Ashanti |
Country | Ghana |
Owner | |
Company | AngloGold Ashanti |
Website | AngloGold Ashanti website |
Year of acquisition | 2004 |
JSE | ANG |
Production | |
Financial year | 2009 |
Ounces of Gold | 381,000 |
History | |
Opened | 1897 |
The Obuasi Gold Mine is an open-pit and underground gold mine situated near Obuasi, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The operation is owned by AngloGold Ashanti .[1][2]
In 2008, AngloGold Ashanti's Ghana operations, consisting of Obuasi and the Iduapriem Gold Mine, contributed 11% to the company's annual production. Both mines became part of AngloGold Ashanti when AngloGold merged with the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation in 2004.[2]
In 2009, the mine employed over 5,700 people.[1] The mine experienced two fatalities in 2008 and one in 2009.[1]
Contents |
Mining at Obuasi begun in 1897, then referred to as the Ashanti Mine.[3]
In an interview Kwesi Enyan, the Managing Director of the mine, announced that the mine, while potentially rich, faces challenges like returning the mine to profitability, addressing social and environmental issues, improving community engagement and illegal mining.[4] The mine was criticised as early as 1975 for environmental pollution,[5] and continues to do so.[6]
Production figures of the recent past were:
Year | Production | Grade | Cost per ounce |
2002 [7] | 537,219 ounces | 4.84 g/t | US$ 198 |
2003 [7] | 513,163 ounces | 4.28 g/t | US$ 217 |
2004 [8] | 255,000 ounces | 5.27 g/t | US$ 305 |
2005 [8] | 391,000 ounces | 4.77 g/t | US$ 345 |
2006 [9] | 387,000 ounces | 4.39 g/t | US$ 395 |
2007 [1] | 360,000 ounces | 4.43 g/t | US$ 459 |
2008 [1] | 357,000 ounces | 4.37 g/t | US$ 633 |
2009 [1] | 381,000 ounces | 5.18 g/t | US$ 630 |
2010 |
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