Name and Location
Kibali gold mine, 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.
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
Randgold has indicated in its update for the quarter ended June 30 that Kibali is well positioned to achieve the 600 000 oz forecast for 2015.
Underground mining exceeded plans for the quarter and is well positioned to continue the expected ramp up in the second half of the year.
The paste plant has been completed below budget and was commissioned during the June quarter, enabling backfilling of the first production stope.
The construction of Ambarau, the second 11 MW hydropower station, made substantial progress during the quarter and first power is expected to be delivered at the end of the third quarter of 2015.
Work has also started on Azambi, the third hydropower station, with commissioning of the 11 MW facility expected in the first quarter of 2017.
Meanwhile, the additional carbon regeneration facility was commissioned during the quarter, ahead of schedule and below budget.
Decline development continued on schedule during the quarter.
Production from the upper level stopes has continued according to plan.
Sinking of the vertical shaft restarted as planned during the June quarter, with a further 6 m sunk and 4 m developed in the boxcut. The total shaft depth was 728 m at the end of the quarter. The shaft completion remains ahead of schedule, with shaft bottom reached on July 22, 2015.
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.
Byrnecut, tel +61 8 9270 1000 or fax +61 8 9270 1001.
Shaft Sinkers, tel +27 11 445 4300 or email info@shaftsinkersgroup.com.
DRA, Christoff Badenhorst, tel +27 11 202 8600 or email info@DRAglobal.com.