Name and Location
Kibali gold mine.

Location
Orientale province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Client
The Kibali joint venture comprises Randgold Resources (45%), AngloGold Ashanti (45%) and DRC State-owned mining company Société des Mines d’Or de Kilo-Moto (10%).

Randgold is the developer and operator of the mine.

Project Description
Kibali ranks as one of the largest gold mines in Africa. It has a reserve base estimated at 11.6-million ounces and it continues to grow.

The mine comprises an integrated openpit and underground operation, as well as a 7.2-million-tonne-a-year processing plant.

Production from the project’s openpit started in September 2013.

The underground mine includes a twin decline and single-shaft vertical system, and four hydropower stations supported by a thermal power station for low rainfall periods and as back-up.

Jobs To Be Created
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
The project represents an investment of more than $2.5-billion by the project partners.

Duration
Production from the openpit started in September 2013.

The vertical shaft system is expected to be handed over in 2017.

Latest Developments
The ramp-up of the underground mine is under way.

The underground operation, and integration and automation of the vertical shaft are proceeding to the final commissioning and automation stage. It is expected that the mine will achieve a significant increase in production once final shaft commissioning has been completed. Completion of the underground mine is expected in the fourth quarter of this year.

The vertical shaft construction has progressed well with the underground materials handling system completed.

Paving of the haulage level and automation development have also progressed, targeting the full commissioning and ramp-up of the shaft ore delivery system in the last quarter of the year.

Construction of the tailings return water detoxification facility was completed and commissioned during the third quarter.

The remaining projects to be completed following underground development is the Gorumbwa resettlement project, stripping activities at mainly the Pakaka and Kombokolo pits and work at the third hydropower station, Azambi, which is on schedule to deliver its first power in the second quarter of 2018.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Byrnecut (underground development); Shaft Sinkers (vertical shaft development); DTP (openpit mining) and DRA (metallurgical facility design and engineering, procurement and construction management).

On Budget and on Time?
The Kibali openpit was successfully commissioned ahead of schedule and within budget on September 24, 2013.

Contact Details for Project Information
Randgold Resources, tel +44 20 7557 7738 or email randgold@dpapr.com.