AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Limited has successfully completed the process of surrendering some 60% of the Obuasi mine concession to government.
According to AngloGold Ashanti it handed over the area as part of a voluntary process which commenced in November 2013.
[contextly_sidebar id=”iZTUD8rjieqzliyTCqYBfGcDOUfX7xLs”]The area in question Citi Business News understands covers about 273 square kilometers and excludes the Obuasi mine proper, which lies on land retained by Anglogold.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources had earlier told Citi Business News that government would hand over portions of the concession which will be ceded to registered small scale miners.
In interview with Citi Business News Head of Operations at Anglogold Ashanti, Eric Asubongteng said the Obuasi mine proper will still be owned by AngloGold Ashanti.
“We have completed the processes with government by handing over part of our lease or concession back to government through the Minerals Commission because the agency we deal with is the minerals commission as the government agency responsible for us. Therefore when we talk about the Obuasi mine it is the operational area and the immediate surroundings as well as infrastructure as the mine is located in the area we are retaining. And let’s make it clear that the Obuasi mine is part of what we ceded out.”
We have only relinquished a part of our lease; the mine is not only made up of not only the lease but then also the infrastructure and our underground working among others.
The Obuasi Mine has not been relinquished not a percentage has been given out, Head of Operations at Anglogold Ashanti, Eric Asubongteng siad.
The portion of unused land handed over by AngloGold is expected to provide an opportunity for Government/ Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to use the land as it sees fit, including encouraging a range of socio-economic development activities in the Obuasi region.
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By: Norvan Acquah – Hayford/citifmonline.com/Ghana