Eric Asubonteng presenting documents of the vehicle to ACP Adjem of the Ashanti Regional Police Command
ANGLOGOLD Ashanti (AGA) is on track to produce first gold ounces at its redeveloped Obuasi mine by the end of December, having resumed operations early this year.
The Managing Director (MD) for AGA, Eric Asubonteng, who disclosed this, said, “This does not mean the company has reached the steady state production, but it is a very key milestone for AGA.”
Speaking in an interview with DAILY GUIDE after presenting two pickup vehicles to the police in Obuasi, Mr. Asubonteng stated that the company required the continuous support of stakeholders to be able to achieve set targets.
According to him, the company needs secure and safe environment free from invasion by illegal miners to operate. He added that it was not within the anticipation of AGA to experience the 2016 episode again in which part of the mine was invaded by illegal miners.
“That brought the mine to its knees. Where we are now, we are operating in a secure environment. We continue to rely on our partners in government and the security agencies to ensure that the peace is sustained so as to be able to redevelop the mine towards achieving first ounce of gold this year,” he noted.
The AGA MD said it was the hope of management of the company that government would continue to clamp down on illegal mining activities as the Obuasi mine is still being redeveloped.
“We have done so with the full support of government to bring us to this stage. We have the full assurance of this government that we would have conducive environment that is safe and secure to operate in order to secure the future of the mine,” he said.
“This is what we are counting on and we will continue to work very closely with government authorities at national, regional and local levels to ensure that a conducive environment is created. The donation we are making today is…one of those collaborative efforts,” he added.
From Ernest Kofi Adu, Obuasi