AFRICAN BUZZ
DRC:
EBOLA CRISIS DRC:
KIBALI SET TO BEAT FORECAST
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Ebola
epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) a public
health emergency of international concern. It’s the highest
alarm the body can sound. When this article was written the
virus had already claimed more than 1600 lives. The Kibali gold mine in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC) remains on track to meet or beat its production
forecast of 750 000 ounces for 2019.
Barrick Gold is the operator at Kibali, which is a joint venture
between Barrick (45%), AngloGold Ashanti (45%) and
Société Miniére de Kilo-Moto (SOK IMO). This year marked
the 10th anniversary of the acquisition of the Moto project
which since then has been developed into one of the largest
gold mines in the world, contributing USD2.7-billion to the
Congolese economy in the process.
According to the WHO the Ebola emergency will require about
three times more money than currently provided. Michael
Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research
and Policy at the University of Minnesota, says that it will,
however, cost the world a lot more if the virus is not brought
under control.
It is also now a full year since Kibali became the owner-
operator of its underground mine, which ranks as one
of the most advanced in the global industry in terms of
automation. According to Mark Bristow, president and CEO
of Barrick, the system is currently being developed to the
next technological level, where it will allow manned and
unmanned operations within the same area.
“We have a gas-can with an Ebola match hitting it. If this gets
into large metropolitan areas, it’s going to be like a gas-tanker
with an Ebola match hitting it,” says Osterholm.
Bristow said a significant feature of autonomous mining was
that it had involved the transfer of specialist technical skills
from expatriate instructors to Kibali’s Congolese workforce.
More than 90% of Kibali’s 5 000 employees and contractors,
including its management, are Congolese nationals.
It is also making a substantial contribution to the promotion
of the local economy through its support of Congolese
contractors and suppliers, which has turned the north-
east of the country into a real commercial hub. During the
first half of this year, Kibali paid about USD79-million to
its Congolese business partners. In addition, it continues
to develop the infrastructure around the mine through
initiatives such as the Durba asphalt project which is paving
a section of the main national road to Uganda which runs
through the town centre.
Health workers fighting the Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of the DRC.
ANGOLA:
CONCESSIONS UP FOR GRABS
“Ten years ago, we went to a remote part of Africa and found
what we believed was a real world-class opportunity, but one
which would require a major investment as well as a lot of
courage to develop. That opportunity became Kibali, which
poured its first gold in September 2013 and ramped up to
full production during 2018,” says Bristow.
The tender includes bidding for
two diamond concessions in the
provinces of Lunda Norte and Lunda
Norte/Lunda Sul, one for iron in the
province of Kwanza Norte, and two
for phosphates in the provinces of
Cabinda and Zaire.
According to Diamantino de
Azevedo, Angolan minister of
mineral resources and oil, the
Angolan government will hold a
public tender for five concessions
focused on diamonds, iron ore and
phosphates later this year.
Diamantino de Azevedo,
Angolan minister of mineral
resources and oil.
The Angolan minister says that gold production, export and
trading is expected to begin soon as well as the evaluation of the
Longonjo rare earth prospecting project in Huambo province.
www. africanmining.co.za
African Mining Publication
Azevedo says that the current concessionaire, Ferrangol, would
continue the negotiation process with Anglo American for
copper prospecting in the Moxico province and rare earths in
Cunene, with Rio Tinto for copper prospecting in Moxico and
diamonds in the Lundas, with De Beers for diamond prospecting
in the Lundas, and with Kumba Iron Ore for iron prospecting.
Kibali in the early stages of development.
African Mining
African Mining October 2019
11