A month later, in October, Mponeng would also be presenting the R9-billion Carbon Leader project to the board, which Viljoen said had the potential to extend the mine's life to 2040 and increase its depth still further, to 4 300 m.

Viljoen told Mining Weekly Online that Mponeng would be applying to the Guinness Book of Records to have its depth officially recognised, once it broke through the 3 777 m level.

The record would be achieved as part of Mponeng's R2-billion Ventersdorp Contact Reef project, which was 30% complete, Mponeng GM Randel Rademann said.

A candidate for disposal in the Nineties, Rademann said that Mponeng was currently AngloGold Ashanti's star performer, contributing the biggest single free cash flow in the last quarter.

Should the Carbon Leader deepening project obtain board approval, it would mean sinking tertiary shaft system to what would be another world record depth .

Viljoen said Mponeng was also the division's safest underground operation in the year to date, achieving 108 accident-free days so far.