AngloGold Ashanti has announced plans to issue a $250 million green bond for environmental purposes on its gold mines.
Alberto Calderon, AngloGold Ashanti’s managing director revealed the plans and said the firm’s goal is to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2030, equivalent to 1.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
The green bond will be issued to local and international investors who will use it to limit the environmental impacts of the mines. This will be done through establishment of renewable energy projects to power its main plant in Johannesburg as well as its numerous gold mines such as Tau Tona and Dreinfontein in Gauteng province in South Africa, Siguiri in Guinea, Sadiola Hills in the Kayes region of Mali and the Obuasi open pit (and underground) gold mine in southern Ghana.
Green bond
This energy-efficient green bond will ultimately contribute to the group’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. In South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti’s use of clean energy will contribute to the acceleration of sustainable development, notably through the creation of green jobs and the reduction of atmospheric pollution exacerbated by the industrial sector.
“AngloGold Ashanti is poised to improve its value and sustainability. A pre-feasibility study has been launched at the Cuiaba mine in Brazil to confirm the benefits of replacing the mobile fleet with battery electric vehicles. We will also be working with Sandvik to test a sustainable transport system for underground mining at the Sunrise Dam mine in Australia,” said Alberto Calderon.