CAFOD welcomes the news that the review of mining company AngloGold Ashanti’s contract in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been concluded after almost three years of negotiations.
The Catholic agency stresses the need for the publication of the contract and its amendments and calls on AngloGold Ashanti to share it immediately with the local community in DRC.
The contract between the South African company and the DRC government confirms a joint venture to mine one of the largest unexplored goldfields in Africa.
Although reduced from 9,000km2 under its exploration contract to 6,000km2, the mining area is still about 60 times the size of Paris and contains around 3 million ounces of gold.
AngloGold Ashanti has a subsidiary listing on the London Stock Exchange.
See http://www.cafod.org.uk/news/anglogold-2010-03-29.