Obuasi Gold Mine

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Obuasi
Location
Obuasi Gold Mine is located in Ashanti
Obuasi Gold Mine
Obuasi Gold Mine
Location in Ashanti
Location Obuasi
Region Ashanti
Country Ghana
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Production
Production 381,000
Financial year 2009
History
Opened 1897
Owner
Company AngloGold Ashanti
Website AngloGold Ashanti website
Year of acquisition 2004

The Obuasi Gold Mine is an open-pit and underground gold mine situated near Obuasi, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana and Obuasi Gold Mine is one of the top-10 largest gold mines on Earth.[1] The operation is owned by AngloGold Ashanti.[2][3] The mine is in Adansi North District.

Gold mining began at Obuasi Gold Mine more than 112 years ago, in 1897 when it was originally known as the Ashanti Mine.[1]

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.[3]

In 2009, the mine employed over 5,700 people.[2] The mine experienced two fatalities in 2008 and one in 2009.[2]

History

Mining at Obuasi begun in 1897, then referred to as the Ashanti Mine.[4]

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.[5] The mine was criticised as early as 1975 for environmental pollution,[6] and continues to do so.[7]

Production

Production figures of the recent past were:

Year Production Grade Cost per ounce
2002 [8] 537,219 ounces 4.84 g/t US$ 198
2003 [8] 513,163 ounces 4.28 g/t US$217
2004 [9] 255,000 ounces 5.27 g/t US$305
2005 [9] 391,000 ounces 4.77 g/t US$345
2006 [10] 387,000 ounces 4.39 g/t US$395
2007 [2] 360,000 ounces 4.43 g/t US$459
2008 [2] 357,000 ounces 4.37 g/t US$633
2009 [2] 381,000 ounces 5.18 g/t US$630
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
  • The 2004 results are for the eight month from May to December only.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Annual Report 2009 AngloGold Ashanti website, accessed: 9 August 2010
  3. 3.0 3.1 Country report: Ghana - Obuasi AngloGold Ashanti website, accessed: 9 August 2010
  4. Obuasi Gold Mine, Ghana ayiajavon.com, accessed: 9 August 2010
  5. Obuasi Mine targets 500,000 ounces of gold production by 2013 The Mail - Ghana News, accessed: 9 August 2010
  6. Arsenic pollution at Obuasi Goldmine, town, and surrounding countryside Environmental Health Perspective website, published: 12 december 1975, accessed: 9 August 2010
  7. Gold Rush: The impact of gold mining on poor people in Obuasi in Ghana ghana-net.com, accessed: 9 August 2010
  8. 8.0 8.1 Ashanti Annual Report 2003 accessed: 10 August 2010
  9. 9.0 9.1 Annual Report 2005 AngloGold Ashanti website, accessed: 9 August 2010
  10. Annual Report 2006 AngloGold Ashanti website, accessed: 9 August 2010

External links