Ghana’s revamped Anglogold Ashanti to pour first gold by end of year

AngloGold Ashanti’s revamped Obuasi mine will which was started in 2018, is on track to produce its first gold at the end of this year and to build-up to its full production rate during 2020, the miner has said.

With an estimated 2,500 jobs to be created, the government of Ghana is confident that Obuasi, a once vibrant town, will be brought back to life again, with an improvement in the living standard of its residents.

Additionally, President Nana Akufo-Addo noted while opening the mine in late January this year that the government is expected to rake in some $2.16 billion in revenue over the next 22 years, in royalties and corporate and withholding taxes.

The company said it achieved guidance for the sixth consecutive year, with improved margins driving significant growth in free cash flow generation.

The Company declared a dividend of ZAR 95 cents per share (approximately 7 US cents per share).

It generated free cash flow of $67 million in the 12 months to 31 December 2018 compared with only $1 million generated in 2017.

Before one-time financing expenses and the costs to complete the successful restructuring of the South African business in 2018, the Company generated $140 million of free cash flow.

“This is a strong operating performance that shows our commitment to meeting our guidance targets and improving our margins,” Chief Executive Officer Kelvin Dushnisky said. “We have a clear set of return and leverage targets that will guide our investments, as we work to unlock value for our shareholders.”

CEO Kelvin Dushnisky has started to streamline the portfolio by initiating processes to sell the Company’s interests in its Cerro Vanguardia and Sadiola assets, as he aims to focus investments on those operations with longer lives and the ability to deliver higher returns.

He has set the hurdle for returns on new investments at 15% (calculated at a gold price of $1,200/oz) and cut the Company’s leverage target to a ratio of 1.0 times net debt to Adjusted EBITDA through the cycle, down from 1.5 times previously.

The redevelopment of the Obuasi mine, which was started in 2018, is on track to produce its first gold at the end of this year and to build-up to its full production rate during 2020.

That follows on the ramp-up of production from the underground mine at Kibali, and commissioning of a new plant, able to process hard rock, at its Siguiri mine in Guinea.

Production for the year ended 31 December 2018 came in toward the top end of guidance at 3.4Moz.

Production from retained operations in 2018 (excluding Moab Khotsong, Kopanang and TauTona), was 3.349Moz at a total cash cost of $765/oz, compared with 3.279Moz at $738/oz in 2017.

All-in Sustaining Costs (AISC) for these retained operations were $968/oz for the year ended 31 December 2018, compared with $1,017/oz during the same period in 2017.

Kibali in the DRC, Iduapriem in Ghana, Geita in Tanzania, Sunrise Dam in Australia and Mponeng in South Africa were stand out performers.

Headline earnings for the year ended 31 December 2018 were $220 million, or 53 US cents per share, compared with $27 million, or 6 US cents per share in 2017.

Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Adjusted EBITDA) were $1.48 billion in 2018, similar to 2017 levels despite the sale and closure of assets in South Africa.

The ratio of net debt to Adjusted EBITDA at the end of December 2018 was 1.12 times compared with 1.35 times at the end of December 2017.

Net debt decreased by 17% to $1.659 billion at 31 December 2018, from $2.001 billion at the 31 December 2017.

Financial flexibility was further improved in October 2018, when a new five-year $1.4 billion multi-currency revolving credit facility was agreed with our banking syndicate replacing our existing $1 billion US Dollar and $500 million Australian Dollar facilities.

Strong liquidity is provided both by this new revolving credit facility, which was fully undrawn at the end of 2018, and $329 million in cash.

AngloGold Ashanti places a premium on a clear and uncompromising method of allocating capital, which means that certain investments may not be made if the returns they offer rank below other available opportunities within the portfolio.

Consistent with this philosophy, the Company has initiated sales processes for Sadiola in Mali as well as Cerro Vanguardia (CVSA) in Argentina.

Through these processes, AngloGold Ashanti aims to achieve both fair value for these assets and to place them with buyers with the operational track record and financial capacity to take them forward.

On 14 February 2019, Sadiola Exploration Limited (SADEX), the subsidiary jointly held by AngloGold Ashanti and IAMGOLD Corporation, entered into a share purchase agreement with the Government of Mali, whereby SADEX agreed to sell to the Government of Mali its 80% participation in Société d’Exploitation des Mines d’Or de Yatela (Yatela), for a consideration of USD 1 (one US dollar). The transaction remains subject to the fulfilment of a number of conditions precedent.

SAFETY

Regrettably, we lost three of our colleagues during the first half of the year. In Brazil, there was one fatality following an electricity-related incident in January. In South Africa, at Moab Khotsong a tramming incident caused one fatality in February and at Mponeng a mechanical loader operator was fatally injured in a seismic fall of ground in April.

The Company will use lessons learned from these tragic incidents to strengthen safety practices for a sustainable improvement in this important area. Significant progress has been made, with record All-Injury Frequency Rate (AIFR), the broadest measure of workplace safety, decreased by 36% to 4.81 injuries per million hours worked for 2018, compared to 7.49 injuries per million hours worked for the previous year.

SECOND HALF

Production from retained operations for the second half of 2018 (excluding Moab Khotsong, Kopanang and TauTona) was 1.722Moz at a total cash cost of $726/oz, compared to 1.761Moz at $733/oz for the last six months of 2017.

AISC for these retained operations were $936/oz for the last six months of 2018, compared to $1,002/oz for the same period in 2017.

Free cash flow of $118 million was generated in the second half of 2018, compared to $162 million for the same period in 2017.

The Company generated $204 million of free cash flow, before growth capital during the last six months of 2018, compared to $231 million during the second half of 2017.

OUTLOOK

Production guidance for the 2019 year is estimated to be between 3,250Moz – 3,450Moz (reflects the impact of the reduced South African operations and a step-down in production at CVSA).

Total cash costs are estimated to be between $730/oz and $780/oz and AISC between $935/oz and $995/oz at average exchange rates against the US dollar of 14.00 (Rand), 3.65 (Brazil Real), 0.75 (Aus$) and 40.00(Argentina Peso), and oil at $74/bl average for the year, based on market expectations.

Capital expenditure is anticipated to be $910 million to $990 million reflecting the ramp-up of the Obuasi redevelopment expenditure.