AngloGold's Tropicana Mine Produces First Gold Ahead of Schedule and on Budget

AngloGold Ashanti

is pleased to announce that the Tropicana Gold Mine in Western Australia began production today ahead of schedule and within budget, adding new ounces at below the company's current average cost structure and so improving the overall quality of its portfolio. "We've taken Tropicana all the way from discovery through development and now into production," Graham Ehm, AngloGold Ashanti's Executive Vice President: Australia, Group Planning & Technical, said. "To pour gold ahead of schedule and within budget is a rare feat in this industry and it's a significant milestone for us and Independence Group, our partner." "We've been able to incorporate innovation into our approach to everything from environmental management to the design of our mining systems and the processing plant. We have also engaged with the local community to provide employment as well as opportunities for local businesses, with contracts worth more than A$30 million per annum awarded to Aboriginal businesses." Located 330km east-northeast of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, Tropicana was originally forecast to begin production in the fourth quarter of this year. The focus will now be on achieving a smooth ramp up of the processing plant to nameplate throughput capacity of 5.5 million tonnes per annum within three months. AngloGold Ashanti, the project manager and operator, owns a 70% stake in Tropicana and Independence Group (IGO) owns the remaining 30%.