Friday, 15th December 2006 (2735 views)

AngloGold Ashanti's TauTona operation, the Below 120 Carbon Leader project, has been praised for its positive effect on the South African (SA) economy.

The SA department of minerals and energy acting chief inspector of mines, Jacques Erasmus, has claimed "the Great Lion" mine has become a vital part of the economy for the region.

Originally built in 1957, the mine is thought to employ around 5,500 miners, 1,100 of which are contracted personnel, out of an estimated 450,000 people involved in the mining industry in the country.

Mr Erasmus said: "Mining in South Africa is growing and is important to the economy.

"One must not only consider the impact of foreign exchange but the knock-on effect that mines create."

And he added that the future of mining in the country is also looking good with the expansion of the TauTona mine, as long as the industry can continue to mine safely.

Mr Erasmus said: "Given the reality that we live in a capitalist society, it is always in the favour of mine workers if work on the mines can be projected beyond 2019.

"What is obviously problematic is the 'how' part of it, because we can go beyond 2019 if we mine safely."

 

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