AngloGold Ashanti Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Reg. No. 1944/017354/06)
ISIN No. ZAE000043485 - JSE share code: ANG
CUSIP: 035128206 - NYSE share code: AU
NEWS RELEASE
AngloGold Ashanti Further Update on South Africa Earthquake
(JOHANNESBURG) - AngloGold Ashanti confirms that each one of the 3,300 people
working underground at its Great Noligwa and Moab Khotsong mines early
yesterday afternoon, when a 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck South Africa's
North West province, were safely hoisted to surface by 7:30pm yesterday.
Twenty-eight employees who sustained minor injuries as a result of the event
have received medical treatment and all have been discharged. Counsellors have
assisted 17 employees with treatment for shock, and will remain on hand for
others who may require their services. Importantly, all safety systems and
protocols were observed and all employees and contractors were instrumental in
ensuring the mine was cleared safely.
"Safely hoisting all 3,300 people to surface after an earthquake of this size
is an achievement of which we're immensely proud," Mike O'Hare, AngloGold
Ashanti's Chief Operating Officer: South Africa, said. "Our infrastructure
responded as it was designed to, and our safety protocols worked as they
should. Our thanks go to every employee, the contractors on site and the
management team who together made this outcome possible."
AngloGold Ashanti's own engineers and specialists, together with external
seismology experts, are conducting intensive, real-time intensive monitoring of
seismic activity in the region. Once it is deemed safe for inspection crews to
proceed underground, a thorough examination of all underground infrastructure,
as well as ore passes, haulages and working areas, will take place. At this
stage, vertical infrastructure is functioning well and the inspections
conducted immediately after the earthquake suggests that these shafts sustained
only minor damage. Electronic systems that monitor various aspects of our
underground areas are also working normally, allowing us to remotely draw
information from a large portion of both mines.
In parallel with this process, AngloGold Ashanti is in close contact with
engineers from Eskom Holdings Ltd., the state-owned power provider, to
establish when fully redundant electricity supply will be restored. AngloGold
Ashanti would like to commend Eskom for working quickly to restore the current
feed to our Vaal River Operations, which has allowed for cooling of underground
areas to continue.
Once it is clear that we have the correct power feed and underground areas and
infrastructure are deemed safe, a decision will be made on resuming normal
shifts. At this stage, we will wait for the appropriate underground conditions
and then conduct thorough assessments. AngloGold Ashanti intends to provide a
more detailed update on the status of the underground operations on Monday,
August 11.
AngloGold Ashanti's West Wits operating region and the Kopanang mine in the
Vaal River area, were not affected by the event.
More about AngloGold Ashanti
AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold producer with 20 operations spanning 10
countries. In 2013, AngloGold Ashanti produced 4.105Moz of gold at a total cash
cost of $830/oz. In 2013, Moab Khotsong produced 212,000oz at a total cash
cost of $797/oz and Great Noligwa produced 83,000oz at a total cash cost of
$1,100/oz. Together, these two mines affected by yesterday's earthquake,
accounted for roughly 7% of total group production last year.
ENDS
Sponsor to AngloGold Ashanti
UBS South Africa (Pty) Limited
Contacts
Media
Chris Nthite +27 (0) 11 637 6388/+27 (0) 83 301 2481 cnthite@anglogoldashanti.com
Stewart Bailey +27 81 032 2563/+27 11 637 6031 sbailey@anglogoldashanti.com
General inquiries media@anglogoldashanti.com
Investors
Stewart Bailey +27 81 032 2563/+27 11 637 6031 sbailey@anglogoldashanti.com
Sabrina Brockman (US & +1 (212) 858 7702/+1 646 379 2555 sbrockman@anglogoldashanti.com
Canada)
Fundisa Mgidi (South +27 11 6376763/+27 82 821 5322 fmgidi@anglogoldashanti.com
Africa)
Certain statements contained in this document, other than statements of
historical fact, including, without limitation, those concerning the economic
outlook for the gold mining industry, expectations regarding gold prices,
production, cash costs, all-in sustaining costs, cost savings and other
operating results, return on equity, productivity improvements, growth
prospects and outlook of AngloGold Ashanti's operations, individually or in the
aggregate, including the achievement of project milestones, commencement and
completion of commercial operations of certain of AngloGold Ashanti's
exploration and production projects and the completion of acquisitions and
dispositions, AngloGold Ashanti's liquidity and capital resources and capital
expenditures and the outcome and consequences of any potential or pending
litigation or regulatory proceedings or environmental, health, and safety
issues, are forward-looking statements regarding AngloGold Ashanti's
operations, economic performance and financial condition. These forward-looking
statements or forecasts involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause AngloGold Ashanti's actual results, performance or
achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Although
AngloGold Ashanti believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements and forecasts are reasonable, no assurance can be
given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Accordingly,
results could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking
statements as a result of, among other factors, changes in economic, social and
political and market conditions, the success of business and operating
initiatives, changes in the regulatory environment and other government
actions, including environmental approvals, fluctuations in gold prices and
exchange rates, the outcome of pending or future litigation proceedings, and
business and operational risk management. For a discussion of such risk
factors, refer to AngloGold Ashanti's annual report on Form 20-F for the year
ended 31 December 2013 which was filed with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") on 14 April 2014. These factors are not necessarily
all of the important factors that could cause AngloGold Ashanti's actual
results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking
statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also have material
adverse effects on future results. Consequently, readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. AngloGold Ashanti
undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the
extent required by applicable law. All subsequent written or oral
forward-looking statements attributable to AngloGold Ashanti or any person
acting on its behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements herein.
This communication may contain certain "Non-GAAP" financial measures. AngloGold
Ashanti utilises certain Non-GAAP performance measures and ratios in managing
its business. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and
not as an alternative for, the reported operating results or cash flow from
operations or any other measures of performance prepared in accordance with
IFRS. In addition, the presentation of these measures may not be comparable to
similarly titled measures other companies may use. AngloGold Ashanti posts
information that is important to investors on the main page of its website at
www.anglogoldashanti.com and under the "Investors" tab on the main page. This
information is updated regularly. Investors should visit this website to obtain
important information about AngloGold Ashanti.
AngloGold Ashanti Limited
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa Reg No: 1944/017354/06
ISIN No. ZAE000043485 - JSE share code: ANG CUSIP: 035128206 - NYSE share code:
AU
Website: www.anglogoldashanti.com