Name and Location
Kibali gold mine.

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

Client
Kibali Gold Mines, which comprises Barrick Gold (45%), AngloGold Ashanti (45%) and DRC State-owned mining company Société des Mines d’Or de Kilo-Moto (10%).

Barrick Gold 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.

Potential Job Creation
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.

Latest Developments
The Kibali gold mine produced 807 251 oz of gold in 2018, exceeding its target of 750 000 oz and 35% higher than its output in the previous year.

This was achieved on the back of the successful ramp-up in underground production and a steady improvement in the processing plant recovery and throughput.

The record production is a result of the shaft operating at nameplate specification and the optimisation of the underground materials handling system.

Bristow has said that the mine continues to offset the impact of its operations through environmental projects such as the 10 130 indigenous trees planted on the site in 2018, as well as biodiversity initiatives.

The resettlement of 1 478 families from the Gorumbwa site to a new village has been successfully completed and will allow for the development of the next satellite pit as set out in the mine plan.

In addition, continuing brownfield exploration around the mine has identified numerous opportunities for reserve replacement along the KZ trend and around KCD.

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.