| Tue 21 Jun 2005, 17:04 | | AngloGold Ashanti - Review of exploration activity |
|
AngloGold Ashanti - Review of exploration activity in the DRC
AngloGold Ashanti Limited
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa
Registration Number: 1944/017354/06)
ISIN Number: ZAE000043485
JSE Share Code: ANG
(`AngloGold Ashanti/Company`)
ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI REVIEW OF EXPLORATION ACTIVITY IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF
THE CONGO (DRC)
A senior executive team of the AngloGold Ashanti management recently
conducted a review of this company`s exploration activities in the DRC. The
review included a visit to the DRC in early June. The focus of this review was
to determine whether this activity could be conducted with integrity, that is,
in compliance with the company`s values.
The team held a series of meetings in the national capital Kinshasa, the
capital of the Ituri district, Bunia, and at the site of our exploration camp in
Mongbwalu. In these three places the team met with representatives of
government, the state mining agency, OKIMO, the UN peace keeping force, MONUC
and representatives of the Catholic Church.
MONUC has now established a substantial presence in Mongbwalu. We have been
assured by MONUC that significant progress with the disarming of militia members
has occurred and FNI militia have withdrawn from the town.
The review has identified a number of areas for management action:
We have commenced a baseline survey of key issues including operational
security, environmental considerations, community health, artisanal mining and
social development.
We are intensifying our engagement with key community and government
stakeholders as well as MONUC in Kinshasa, Bunia and Mongbwalu.
We will strictly monitor all contact with outside organisations, maintaining
a register of the nature and content of these contacts, and ensure that they are
consistent with our values and credible international guidelines for operating
in conflict zones.
We are discussing with our partner OKIMO, the state mining agency, how to
deal with the occupation, without our consent, of houses within our concession.
Given the volatility of events in the DRC we will regularly review our
activities, and should it become impossible to operate safely and with integrity
we will withdraw from the region, as we have done previously.
We remain ready to engage with all interested stakeholders, including
government, the United Nations and NGOs to ensure that our actions are
consistent with our values and the intentions set out in this statement. It is
our belief and hope that our presence contributes to an improvement in the
economic prospects for the Democratic Republic of Congo and, thereby, reinforces
the peace process.
ends
21 June 2005
JSE Sponsor: UBS
Date: 21/06/2005 04:48:02 PM
Produced by the JSE SENS Department
