As it has been released by the company gold mining Randgold Resources, the company's chief executive Mark Bristow said'' Randgold this time aims to surpass the production target of 600,000 ounces of gold for producers in 2015. Randgold expects to expand operations in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo by early next year.
Randgold Resources operates the Kibali mine in northeastern Congo, a joint venture with AngloGold Ashanti and state miner Sokimo. It also has a joint venture with Kilo Gold mines to explore for gold in the area.
Kibali and other new gold mines opened by companies like Banro Corporation have boosted Congo's gold output from near zero in 2011 to over 20 tonnes last year.
Global gold production in 2014 stood at about 2,860 tonnes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. South Africa, which poured about 150 tonnes, was Africa's leading producer.
Kibali poured more than 525,000 ounces of gold in 2014, its first full year of production, and expects to produce more than 600,000 ounces this year. It is the second-highest producing mine for Randgold, which recorded revenues of $1.43 billion last year.
During an update interview with local media, Bristow said that the end of the vertical shaft sinking work marked a major step in the development of the underground mine will add to air operations Kibali open. Other major investment projects have also made good progress, including the commissioning of the second hydroelectric plant of the mine, the first two stages of the commissioning of new plants.
"We have also engaged with a series of junior companies...to enter in joint ventures where we would be prepared to take over the project and complete the pre-feasibility (study) to earn a share in the project and take control," Bristow told a news conference in the capital Kinshasa.
Bristow added that Randgold currently has four confidentiality agreements in Congo and said he hoped to have news about exploration projects by his next quarterly news conference in Kinshasa.
Congo, which hopes to become one of the continent's leading gold producers, increased output 69 percent in the first half of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.
