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 1,500m. The Obuasi underground operation employs mostly the 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
1897
- Production at Obuasi started.
2014
- Production stopped in the last quarter of 2014. Some aspects of the mine continued under limited operational conditions, including the development of the underground decline.
2017
- A favourable feasibility study was completed, indicating a strong technical and economical case with an anticipated 20-year LOM
2018
- Approval was received from the AngloGold Ashanti board to proceed with the project.
- The redevelopment project began
2020
- Phase 1 of the redevelopment project was completed by end September and began commercial production on 1 October.
2019
- The first gold was poured in the fourth quarter of 2019
2021
- Phase 2, construction and mine development, was completed.
- The operations’ ramp up was delayed by the temporary stoppage of underground activities after a fall of ground incident in May 2021.
- Production remained suspended for several months to allow for reviews and investigations, but slowly resumed in the latter part of 2021.
2023
- Phase 3 of the redevelopment project is currently underway to develop the infrastructure necessary to support the planned ramp up in production to 5,000tpd by the end of 2023.
Governance
Obuasi mine is committed to the highest standards of governance, ethics and integrity.
AngloGold Ashanti maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with applicable anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws, including those requiring that accurate accounts and records be maintained. Obuasi mine subscribes fully to these policies. For more information, see https://www.anglogoldashanti.com/sustainability/governance/policies-standards/ on the group website.
Employment
1,015
directly employed at 31 December 2022
3,388
through third-party contractors as at 31 December 2022
Government
$127m
contributed to Ghana’s economy in 2021
through payment of direct and indirect taxes
Community
$1,069,000
invested in 2022
Local sourcing
91%
of all procurement is spent in-country