JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Africa-focused gold-mining and exploration company Randgold Resources met with the Democratic of Congo (DRC) government on Tuesday to report on the latest steps taken towards the development of the Kibali gold project.

The DRC government has a 10% stake in the project, which is said to be the largest undeveloped gold deposit in Africa, through its parastatal Okimo.

The Kibali project is a joint venture between Randgold, AngloGold Ashanti and Okimo, with Randgold being the operator of the project.

Randgold CEO and Kibali chairperson Mark Bristow said that the company had taken "great strides" towards the development of the project during the past quarter, compiling a new geological model and optimising the existing feasibility study with a view to start production at the earliest opportunity.

"Operationally, we need to finalise the opencast and underground development and mining schedules and ensure that we build a mine that matches the world-class nature of the deposit and maximises the production rate in relation to the potential size of Kibali's reserves and resources."

Preconstruction work on the new road between Aru and Doko, which is central to the logistics of the project's development, had now started.

Further, the establishment of an adequate electrical power supply to the project had been advanced by completing the conceptual engineering studies on upgrading Okimo's existing facilities and securing a licence to generate hydropower from the Nzoro river.

However, Bristow noted that the company were conscious of the challenges still ahead.

"The relocation of people is probably the biggest of these, and we have to ensure that the resettlement programme and public participation process stay on track."

The company had now formulated a draft people-resettlement programme and initiated a public participation process.

"We also have to build a mutually beneficial working relationship with Okimo, whose active participation in this complicated and sensitive issue is critical," concluded Bristow.

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