Iduapriem Gold Mine
Encyclopedia
The Iduapriem Gold Mine is an open-pit
gold mine situated 10 km south of Tarkwa
, in the Western Region
of Ghana
. The mine is owned by AngloGold Ashanti
and consists of the Iduapriem and the Teberebie operation, which were merged in 2000. AngloGold Ashanti originally only owned 85% of the mine but acquired the remaining 15% in September 2007.
In 2008, AngloGold Ashanti's Ghana operations, consisting of Iduapriem and the Obuasi Gold Mine
, contributed 11% to the companys annual production. Both mines became part of AngloGold Ashanti when AngloGold
merged with the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation
in 2004.
In 2009, the mine employed 1,447 people. The mine has been fatality-free since 1999.
Mining at Iduapriem was suspended for a time in early 2010 to allow for the construction of a temporary tailings storage facility at the mine. The operators were told by the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana to suspend operations over "potentially adverse environmental impacts arising from the current tailings storage facility".
, and a 90% share of Teberebie, with the Government of Ghana holding the remainder. Combined, this accumulated to an 85% share for AngloGold Ashanti in the whole operation. In September 2007, the company acquired the remaining 15% as well.
Open-pit mining
Open-pit mining or opencast mining refers to a method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their removal from an open pit or borrow....
gold mine situated 10 km south of Tarkwa
Tarkwa, Ghana
Tarkwa is a town in the southwest of Ghana, located about 120 miles west of Accra. As of 2005, it was estimated to have a population of 40,397. It is a noted centre of gold and manganese mining. Tarkwa Mine, which is a large open-caste gold mine, is situated to the northwest of the town, and...
, in the Western Region
Western Region (Ghana)
The Western Region of Ghana, reaching from the Côte d'Ivoire border in the west to the Central Region in the east, includes the large twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi on the coast, coastal Axim, and a hilly inland area including Elubo. It includes Ghana's southernmost location, Cape Three Points,...
of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. The mine is owned by AngloGold Ashanti
AngloGold Ashanti
AngloGold Ashanti Limited is a global gold mining company. It was formed in 2004 by the merger of AngloGold and the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation.AngloGold Ashanti Limited is now a global gold producer with 21 operations on four continents...
and consists of the Iduapriem and the Teberebie operation, which were merged in 2000. AngloGold Ashanti originally only owned 85% of the mine but acquired the remaining 15% in September 2007.
In 2008, AngloGold Ashanti's Ghana operations, consisting of Iduapriem and the Obuasi Gold Mine
Obuasi Gold Mine
The Obuasi Gold Mine is an open-pit and underground gold mine situated near Obuasi, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The operation is owned by AngloGold Ashanti ....
, contributed 11% to the companys annual production. Both mines became part of AngloGold Ashanti when AngloGold
AngloGold
AngloGold was a gold mining company based in South Africa and majority-owned by the Anglo American group. In 2004 it merged with the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation to create the world's second-largest gold producer, AngloGold Ashanti. It's a big company....
merged with the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation
Ashanti Goldfields Corporation
This is the article on the mining company. For the football club of the same name see Ashanti Gold SC.The Ashanti Goldfields Corporation is a gold mining company based in Ghana that was founded by Edwin Cade. The Ashanti Mine, located at Obuasi, 56 km south of Kumasi, has been producing since 1897...
in 2004.
In 2009, the mine employed 1,447 people. The mine has been fatality-free since 1999.
Environmental impact
The mine and its owners have been criticised in the past for the loss of land for local farmers, the pollution and drying-up of local rivers and watersources and the lack of action to combat these issues.Mining at Iduapriem was suspended for a time in early 2010 to allow for the construction of a temporary tailings storage facility at the mine. The operators were told by the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana to suspend operations over "potentially adverse environmental impacts arising from the current tailings storage facility".
Mine ownership
Majority-owned by the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation from 2000 onwards, ownership of this 85% share of the operation was transferred to AngloGold Ashanti with the merger of Ashanti and AngloGold in 2004. The new company owned an 80% share of Iduapriem, with the remaining 20% held by the International Finance CorporationInternational Finance Corporation
The International Finance Corporation promotes sustainable private sector investment in developing countries.IFC is a member of the World Bank Group and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States....
, and a 90% share of Teberebie, with the Government of Ghana holding the remainder. Combined, this accumulated to an 85% share for AngloGold Ashanti in the whole operation. In September 2007, the company acquired the remaining 15% as well.
Production
Production figures of the recent past were:| Year | Production | Grade | Cost per ounce |
| 2002 | 185,199 ounces | 1.66 g/t | US$ United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... 232 |
| 2003 | 243,533 ounces | 1.75 g/t | US$ 240 |
| 2004 | 147,000 ounces | 1.72 g/t | US$ 303 |
| 2005 | 205,000 ounces | 1.71 g/t | US$ 348 |
| 2006 | 196,000 ounces | 1.74 g/t | US$ 368 |
| 2007 | 185,000 ounces | 1.85 g/t | US$ 373 |
| 2008 | 200,000 ounces | 1.76 g/t | US$ 525 |
| 2009 | 190,000 ounces | 1.72 g/t | US$ 516 |
| 2010 |
- The 2004 results are for the eight month from May to December only.
External links
- AngloGold Ashanti website
- Iduapriem mine (GHA-00020) Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States website