Name and Location
Kibali gold project, 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
The Kibali operation will comprise an integrated underground and openpit mine, a twin-circuit sulphide and oxide plant, with a throughput of six-million tonnes a year, four self-constructed hydropower stations and a standby high-speed thermal power generator for backup during the dry season.

The project is being constructed over two overlapping phases.

Phase 1 covers the metallurgical plant, the first phase of the tailings storage facility, the construction of a hydropower station, a backup thermal power plant, construction of the tailings storage facility, openpit mining, all shared infrastructure and the completion of the resettlement programme.

Phase 2 involves the development of the underground mine, including a twin decline and single shaft vertical system and three hydropower stations.

The current life-of-mine plan envisages average yearly output of about 600 000 oz for the first 12 years, with an average grade of 4.1g/t.

Value
Kibali represents an initial investment of $1.7-billion by Randgold and AngloGold Ashanti.

Duration
Phase 1 will run from the first quarter of 2012 to the fourth quarter of 2013.

Phase 2 is expected to deliver first ore in 2014 and to reach steady-state production by 2015.

Latest Developments
The project has advanced to its immediate preproduction development stage and final preparations are being made for the first gold pour, targeted for October this year.

More than two-million tonnes of ore from the openpit mine has already been stockpiled to feed the metallurgical plant’s oxide circuit, which is scheduled to start commissioning in the third quarter this year.
All 36 power generator sets have arrived on site and the backup diesel power station is on schedule, with the first 12 of the 15 generator sets needed for plant start-up already commissioned. The construction of the first hydrostation is on track for completion in the first quarter of next year and will be followed by three additional stations.

Work on the underground mine is also progressing well, with the development of the declines ahead of schedule and the vertical shaft expected to reach a depth of 183 m by year end.

In line with Randgold’s policy of local employment and upskilling, 71 people from the local community and another 22 DRC nationals are  being trained as plant operators and supervisors at Randgold’s Morila mine, in southern Mali and its Tongon mine, in Côte d’Ivoire. Similar to Randgold’s other mines, Kibali’s management team is being drawn largely from host-country nationals.

Meanwhile, the relocation programme, one of the most complex and sensitive parts of the project’s development, is nearing completion, with more than 3 400 families already resettled in the new model village of Kokiza. Randgold is in the process of handing over the village to a local administration.

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 project remains on track to deliver first gold in the fourth quarter of 2013.

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