NON-OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW FOR THE QUARTER
In early October, AngloGold Ashanti announced the
proposed launch of an employee share ownership plan
(ESOP) and a black economic empowerment (BEE)
transaction, both of which are subject to an AngloGold
Ashanti shareholder vote, to be held on 11 December
2006. The proposed plan will issue 960,000 ordinary
shares to nearly 31,000 South African employees or
30 shares per individual worker. In addition, each worker
will be allotted 90 “loan shares” issued at a 10% discount
to market value calculated using a 30-day average share
price. These shares will vest in five equal tranches over
the next eight years. The BEE scheme will allow Izingwe
Holdings, a private South African investment company, to
acquire approximately 1.4m “loan shares” under similar
terms as the ESOP.
In South Africa, the recent Treasury announcement of a
revised draft royalty bill proposed a rate on refined gold of
1.5%. This represents a considerably lower royalty than
was proposed in the initial draft, and the company
welcomes the less severe impact it will have on
AngloGold Ashanti and the South African gold industry.
After serving more than 40 years for AngloGold and, prior
to that, for Anglo American, company secretary Chris Bull
will retire at the end of November 2006. He is succeeded
by Lynda Eatwell, who has been the assistant company
secretary for AngloGold Ashanti for the last six years.
OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE QUARTER
SOUTH AFRICA
At Great Noligwa, volume mined was 2% higher this
quarter due to improved face advance, although yield
decreased 5% as a result of continued maintenance work
requiring waste development to be passed through the
reef ore system, resulting in dilution. Production
consequently declined 1% to 4,699kg (151,000oz). Total
cash costs increased 9% to R62,145/kg ($271/oz) given
the lower production, annual wage increases and the
seasonally higher power costs. Gross profit adjusted for
the effect of unrealised non-hedge derivatives decreased
5% to R281m ($39m), primarily as a result of the higher
total cash costs.
The Lost-Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) was 12.83
lost-time injuries per million hours worked (9.48 for the
previous quarter). Regrettably, two people died during the
quarter, one after being inundated by mud during an ore
transport process and the other in an equipment accident.
At Kopanang, yield declined 8% due to a combination of
increased waste-to-reef tramming, which is being
addressed and should improve by year-end, and a higher
percentage of off-reef mining due to geological structural
problems. Production consequently decreased 3% to
3,448kg (111,000oz) and total cash costs increased
7% to R65,114/kg ($284/oz), also due in part to
annual wage increases and higher winter power
costs. Gross profit adjusted for the effect of
unrealised non-hedge derivatives, at R204m ($29m),
declined 8% quarter-on-quarter as a result of lower
production and higher costs.
The LTIFR was 11.92 (11.59). One person
regrettably died in a fall of ground accident.
Production at Moab Khotsong was 3% lower this
quarter, at 329kg (11,000oz), due to the lack of
mining flexibility inherent in the operation’s build-up
phase. While this also affected total cash costs,
which increased 12% to R153,993/kg ($669/oz),
mining flexibility is expected to increase next year,
and production should consequently improve by
approximately 90%. Gross loss adjusted for the
effect of unrealised non-hedge derivatives increased
24% to R36m ($5m).
The LTIFR was 17.13 (16.02).
At Tau Lekoa, volume mined increased 9% this
quarter, as the mine has begun to stabilise at revised
planning levels. Consequently, gold production
increased 5% to 1,358kg (44,000oz). Total cash
costs were 3% higher at R95,702/kg ($417/oz), a
combination of annual wage increases and higher
power costs. Gross profit adjusted for the effect of
unrealised non-hedge derivatives increased to R19m
($3m), mainly due to the higher production.
The LTIFR was 28.26 (26.32).
At Mponeng, the beneficial effect of a higher volume
mined was mitigated by a decrease in grade,
resulting in production of 4,832kg (155,000oz), level
with that of the previous quarter. Total cash costs, at
R49,800/kg ($217/oz), were 5% higher due to the
annual wage increases. Gross profit adjusted for the
effect of unrealised non-hedge derivatives was 2%
lower at R318m ($44m), as a result of increased total
cash costs.
The LTIFR was 12.83 (7.32). Regrettably, two
people died in separate fall of ground accidents.
Production at Savuka, at 808kg (26,000oz),
improved 24% quarter-on-quarter after higher face
values and increased reef area mining together led to
an 18% improvement in yield. Total cash costs
consequently improved 9% to R67,618/kg ($294/oz),
in spite of the annual wage increases and higher
winter power costs that affected all of the South
African operations. As a result, gross profit adjusted
for the effect of unrealised non-hedge derivatives
increased 44% to R49m ($7m).