They company envisages expanding exploration activities. Geita Gold Mine will embark on an eight-year exploration programme that will see the mine continue employing locals and foreigners, for a much longer period due to extension of the mine's lifespan.
"Besides exploration activities the money will also be invested in purchases of heavy duty trucks which are essential in ferrying the ore from the open pit floor to the surface for further processing," said Mr Tenga Tenga, Communications Manager, AngloGold Ashanti Limited.
He said that there are many opportunities in the target areas that hadn't been explored before. Some of the areas to be explored include Nyamulilima Terrain and along the southern edge of the Geita Greenstone Belt.
Meanwhile, pit mapping at the Star and Comet, Ridge 8, Roberts, Kukuluma, Geita Hill and Nyankanga deposits is continuing. According to him, in the first quarter, a total of 74 diamond holes and 115 (reverse circulation (RC) holes were drilled.
"Evaluations from these areas (Nyankanga, Geita Hill West, Geita Hill East, Ridge 8, Matandani and Kukuluma), during the quarter were very positive," said Mr Tenga. He further said that it wasn't possible to predict as to how much production would increase "but obviously our aim is to increase production two or threefold."
"Geita continues to do exploration on its special mining licence," he said. According to him, in the first quarter, a total of 74 diamond holes and 115 (reverse circulation (RC) holes were drilled.
He said that gold production for the first quarter was 66 215 ounces against a target of 72 801 ounces, making production nine per cent lower than budgeted as a result of the extended SAG Mill replacement project.
"Geita Gold Mine will continue to maintain its production profile in the second and third quarters to remain a leading contributor to the Anglo Gold Ashanti group," he said. AngloGold Ashanti has invested 957.3bn/- (600m US solars) in Geita Gold Mine since the year 2000.
Geita Gold Mine is an open cast mine with three pits. It currently employs 3 541 people, both directly and indirectly, with a further 155 casuals and apprentices.
Approximately 95 per cent of these employees are Tanzanian and the mine has paid 1.08tri/- (683million US dollars) in direct contributions to the Tanzanian government through taxes and royalties since the year 2000.
"In 2012, our contributions totaled 341.1bn/-(213.8m US dollars), a significant increase since 2011, where 161.3bn/- (101.1m US dollars) was paid in direct contributions," said Mr Tenga.
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