AngloGold Ashanti suspends operations at Iduapriem mine in Ghana
AngloGold Ashanti, one of the major players in the mining industry in Ghana, has suspended operations in one of its mines in the country – the Iduapriem Mine.
In a press statement copied to ghanabusinessnews.com Friday February 19, 2010, AngloGold Ashanti says the company suspended operations following discussions it had with the country’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding what it describes as “potentially adverse environmental impacts arising from the current tailings storage facility.”
The mine will remain closed “until alternative arrangements for tailings storage can be established,” the statement said.
The statement however, indicated that in parallel, the mine is accelerating the development of a new tailings storage facility and a water treatment plant, which it aims to commission in the latter part of 2010 or in early 2011.
According to AngloGold, a revised plan will be initiated to enable a significant portion of lost production to be recovered over the course of the year.
In 2009, Iduapriem produced 190,000oz of gold, some 4% of AngloGold Ashanti’s annual global production, the statement said.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi