Obuasi, Ghana

Obuasi, an underground operation mining to a depth of 1,500m, is located in the Ashanti region, approximately 60km south of Kumasi.

Ownership

100%
AngloGold Ashanti

Workforce

4,210
including contractors

Mineral Resource

29.52Moz
of gold

Gold production

127Koz
2019: 2Koz

All-in sustaining costs

$1,316
2019: N/A

Contribution to group production

Obuasi is an underground operation with the main accesses into the mine consisting of shafts and a single access decline with interlevel development of between 15 and 30m. The Obuasi Deeps Decline, which is situated at the southern end of the mine, is designed to extend to a depth of about 1500m. The Obuasi Underground operation employs mostly Long Hole Open Stoping (LHOS) mining method for ore extraction.

Existing infrastructure includes a 2.4Mtpa processing plant with flotation and bacterial oxidation (BIOX), underground development, hoisting shafts and associated infrastructure, power and water reticulation, office complexes, workshops and company housing estates. Power is supplied to the mine by the Volta River Authority and GridCo.

A brief history

Production at Obuasi started in 1897 and stopped in the last quarter of 2014. Some aspects of the mine continued under limited operational conditions, including the development of the underground decline.
A favourable feasibility study was completed in 2017 and indicated a strong technical and economical case with an anticipated 20-year LOM
In 2018, approval was received from the AngloGold Ashanti board to proceed with the project.
The redevelopment project commenced in late 2018 and first gold was poured during the fourth quarter of 2019.
Phase 1 of the redevelopment project was completed by end September 2020 and began commercial production on 1 October 2020.
Phase 2, construction and mine development, is in progress and expected to be completed in 2021.