news release
AngloGold Ashanti Limited \ (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Reg. No.1944/017354/06) \ ISIN Number: ZAE000043485
Corporate Affairs Department: \ 76 Jeppe Street \ Newtown \ 2001 \ South Africa
Tel +27 (0) 11 637 6248 \ Fax +27 (0) 11 637 6399/6400 \ www.AngloGoldAshanti.com
30 October 2008
ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI RESULTS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER 2008
Highlights
·
Delivery for the third consecutive quarter on production and cost guidance, with continued
reduction in the hedge book.
·
Production at 1.265Moz, 1% higher than previous quarter, with Obuasi and Cerro Vanguardia
posting substantial improvements.
·
Total cash costs at $486/oz – better than guidance but higher than previous quarter due to wage
increases, power tariffs, inflation and inventory movements – while costs are expected to reduce
to approximately $460/oz in the fourth quarter.
·
Continuing safety focus, with lost time injury rate improving 10% and despite four fatalities
during the quarter, the fatality rate reduced for the year by 60% against the same period in
2007.
·
Uranium production up 7% to 346,000 pounds, with enhanced exposure to the spot market
expected in the fourth quarter.
·
Hedge book commitments reduced by 580,000oz during the quarter, with the company on track
to reduce book to approximately 6.0Moz by year-end.
·
Adjusted headline loss of $119m incurred, as a result of accelerated hedge reduction.
·
Greenfields exploration projects continue to make solid progress, particularly in Australia and
Colombia
Detail
AngloGold Ashanti reported an increase in gold production on 1.265Moz, 1% higher than the previous
quarter and in-line with guidance provided in July 2008. Cerro Vanguardia in Argentina and Obuasi in
Ghana posted significant improvements against the previous quarter, with gold production increasing
59% and 16% respectively. The South African operations continued to perform steadily, using 92.4% of
power supply, while operating at 100% production capacity.
Total cash costs for the quarter at $486/oz, were higher than the prior quarter’s $434/oz due to input
cost inflation, annual wage increases, higher power tariffs and inventory adjustments, but
were within
market guidance of $490/oz.
The company also reduced its hedge commitments by 580,000oz during the quarter, with a total hedge
reduction year-to-date of almost 5Moz. As a result of the continued accelerated hedge reduction, the
company received a price of $644/oz and posted an adjusted headline loss of $119m.
Net debt reduced from $2.7bn at the end of June 2008 to $1.23bn at the end of September 2008. Net
debt to EBITDA stood at 1.16 times at the end of the quarter.