AngloGold Ashanti Deepening Mponeng


Mponeng is one of AngloGold Ashanti’s
three mines on the West Wits Line. The
others are TauTona and Savuka.
AngloGold Ashanti will develop its Mponeng mine below the mine’s 120 level at a capital cost of $252 million. The project, from which production will start in 2013, is expected to produce 2.5 million oz of gold over a period of 10 years and will extend the life of the mine by about eight years to 2024. Mponeng is located on the West Wits Line near Carletonville, South Africa, about 65 km west of Johannesburg. The mine poured its first gold in 1986 and has been expanded through a series of deepening projects, the most recent being an extension from 109 to 120 level, about 3,400 m below surface. The mine consists of a twoshaft system from surface to 85 level and a triple sub-shaft system down to 120 level. The current project involves sinking of four parallel decline shafts from the 120 level to gain access to the Ventersdorp Contact Reef on levels 123 and 126, about 3,600 m below surface. The declines will be equipped with a conveyor belt, monorail, and chairlift to service the new mining area. The project also creates further opportunities to access additional potential projects in the Mponeng area, including Western Ultra Deep Levels, further to the south. Commenting on the project, Robbie Lazare, AngloGold Ashanti’s executive officer for underground operations in Africa,said, “I am enormously proud of the contribution that Mponeng has consistently made to AngloGold Ashanti. In 2006, production from the mine increased by 16% to nearly 600,000 oz, and cash costs were $237/oz or, in local currency terms, R51,524/kg. This project is a solid investment that extends the production and profitability of a flagship operation and is an important element of AngloGold Ashanti’s global organic growth program.”