AngloGold Ashanti has slashed its production guidance for the year to Dec 2021 due to the suspension of its Obuasi mine in Ghana following a fatal ground fall, with the international gold major now factoring in zero production for the rest of the year.
The fatal accident in May was just one of a series of setbacks for AngloGold in the June half, with the COVID-19 pandemic and lower realised grades at some operations also taking a toll. Free cashflow plunged to $25M from H1FY2020’s $177M that included its since discontinued South African assets.
The detailed Obuasi review by AMC Consultants continues, although underground development and redevelopment work have resumed.
Without Obuasi’s original forecast 300,000-350,000oz, AngloGold now expects 2.45Moz-2.6Moz at $1,240-1,340/oz.