One of the gold mining giants in Ghana, AngloGold Ashanti, AGA, says the ongoing renovation of the Obuasi Mine is on course despite the coronavirus pandemic. The mine targets to produce 2,000 tonnes of gold daily in the first phase, having made the first pour late last year after the resumption of operations.
The Senior Sustainability Manager, Emmanuel Baidoo says that some workers and contractors have tested positive for the coronavirus.
“Obuasi Mine is part of the Obuasi community, therefore, if something is happening in the community, it, directly and indirectly, have an impact on us. And we have some of our contractors who live in the community apart from the main mine employees who live in mine residential areas,” he said.
Emmanuel Baidoo also explains that because they are in the project phase, they are working with many contractors who constitute about 60% or more of AngloGold Ashanti’s total employees who live in the Obuasi town.
“So, some of the cases are directly on the Mine and some of them are in town and we do interact with Obuasi township so it definitely has an impact on us,” he said.
Mr Baidoo says a work-from-home arrangement has assured uninterrupted operations. Months of restructuring activities culminated in re-opening of the Mine in January 2019. AngloGold Ashanti poured its first gold in December 2019, amid fanfare after about five years of closure due to operational challenges.
The Obuasi Mine had projected to increase the daily tonnage of gold from 2000 tons to 4,000 after 2020. However, the emergence of coronavirus has impacted negatively on the operations, as workers numbers were reduced.
“With Covid-19, we have had to reduce the number of people who work on the mine so somehow it would definitely will impact on our deliverables but we are doing very well. Operation is ongoing but to talk of broader impact, it is obvious, we are affected.”
Despite the challenges, AGA insist plans to operationalise the Obuasi mine are on track.
“The project is on course; in terms of operations, it is on course and at the moment we don’t really anticipate any hitch. If there is any significant change, obviously, we will be more than happy to communicate with our stakeholders,” Mr Baidoo said.
Emmanuel Baidoo also said the implementation of a 3-year Social Management Plan to help diversify the local economy has been revised but the focus remained unchanged. The Social Management Plan covers education, healthcare and creation of alternative livelihood through agriculture.
AngloGold Ashanti shuts its South African mine
AngloGold Ashanti has temporarily closed its Mponeng mine in South Africa after 164 workers tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus infection.
The gold mine, which is known to be the deepest in the world, resumed operations last month after being closed in March under a nationwide lockdown. It had been operating at approximately 50% capacity.
In a statement, AngloGold Ashanti said it tested 650 workers at Mponeng, after detecting the first case last week, and 164 were found positive for the virus with only a few tests left to process.
