|
|
Beneficiation - Adding Value
|
AngloGold Ashanti has over the years committed itself to innovation in the beneficiation of gold and through this has been involved in numerous activities. Current or ongoing initiatives include:
OroAfrica Central to AngloGold Ashanti's commitment to adding value is its 27% stake in OroAfrica, the largest manufacturer of gold jewellery in South Africa. OroAfrica is an export-driven company; over 90% of its annual production of approximately 5 metric tons of gold chain is exported, mostly to the USA.
AngloGold Ashanti funded the establishment of a Design Centre at OroAfrica’s production facility in Cape Town. This centre incorporates sophisticated CAD/CAM systems which are being used to develop new designs and unique gold jewellery product. 
The Design Centre employs award-winning designers and model makers to assist in the development of new product. OroAfrica’s Design Centre was recently commissioned by the South African Parliament to design and manufacture a parliamentary mace, made from gold, platinum, diamonds and other minerals mined in South Africa.
For further information, please visit the web site at:
Goldsmith Training ProgrammeThe Goldsmith Training Project forms part of the company’s beneficiation initiatives focusing on skills transfer with other countries in Africa. The artisans in West Africa have specialised knowledge in traditional African goldsmithing techniques and have practical technical skills combined with a distinctive sense of African design. These West African techniques have provided South African trainees with significant opportunities to be exposed to the know-how required for small jewellery operators with low capital base structures. This assists previously disadvantaged jewellery manufacturers in South Africa to enter the mainstream. The programme also assists such individuals with design facilities, marketing and logistical support.
The latest initiative in the Goldsmith Training Programme has resulted in AngloGold Ashanti sponsoring an accomplished Ghanaian goldsmith, David Apim Tetteh, to give training in traditional West African jewellery making techniques during the Mining Week, held by the Department of Minerals and Energy, at Electra Mining Africa 2004 at Nasrec. This is the first time the company has brought a goldsmith from Ghana to South Africa.
 The week-long goldsmithing workshop was attended by jewellery students from seven institutions based in five South African provinces. The majority of the students were from community-based jewellery training institutions.
Students were expected to produce a piece of jewellery that incorporated West African and contemporary South African design idioms during the workshop. The pieces were manufactured using techniques such as filigree, chain making and gold leafing, learnt during the programme. A workshop bench and tools were awarded to the most promising student at an awards evening.
AngloGold Ashanti’s Goldsmith Training Programme started in 2000 when the company took seven lecturers from jewellery schools around South Africa to Mali for a week of training. The company also brought Malian goldsmiths to South Africa in 2001 and 2002.
Gold Jewellery Handbook of South AfricaWith the advent of the Mining Charter in South Africa and its aspiration to encourage beneficiation of minerals in South Africa, a source of reference that consolidates information on all relevant aspects of business in gold is a necessary resource for gold beneficiation strategies and initiatives in this country. South Africa does not have a comprehensive source of basic information on the local gold value chain. In 2004, Anglogold Ashanti, in partnership with the World Gold Council, the South African Departments of Trade and Industry, Minerals and Energy and the Industrial Development Corporation embarked on a research project to address this information vacuum.
The key deliverable of this project will be a reference handbook that will cover all industry sectors from mining and refining to retailing of gold products. The handbook will include information on how the gold industry operates at each level, on gold supply and demand, on volumes fabricated and consumed for export and domestic consumption, on indicative product pricing and margins, and on social and economic issues relevant to various parts of the gold industry. It is expected that the reference material will enable government and industry players to devise effective beneficiation strategies in the industry and identify opportunities for further development. The handbook will be released in 2005 and may be updated annually.
Soweto Jewellery School Anglogold Ashanti has, over the past few years, enjoyed a relationship with Imfundiso Skills Development, a non-governmental organisation that runs various community-based jewellery training programmes across the country. Imfundiso started the Soweto Jewellery School in early 2004, with one workshop based at the George Tabor Campus of the South West Gauteng College.
The organisation approached Anglogold Ashanti to sponsor a second jewellery workshop in Soweto, which would allow the enrolment of another class of learners. The school programme offers a two-year jewellery manufacturing course for the purposes of fast-tracking unskilled, unemployed and inexperienced youths into jewellery and craft manufacturing. In 2004, 15 Soweto youths were enrolled in the programme. On completion of the programme, they may enter the industry as employees at established manufacturers, start their own ventures with Imfundiso support or enrol for further study at universities of technology.
Imfundiso was established in 2001 and is a section 21 company. In addition to the Soweto Jewellery School, the company also operates the Cullinan Jewellery School (Pretoria), the Sekhukhune Jewellery School (Limpopo) and the Refilwe Jewellery Campus.
Beneficiation Exhibitions
- Vukani-Ubuntu
Vukani-Ubuntu exhibited at Jewellex 2004, South Africa's leading jewellery trade fair, as a Jewellery Design and Manufacture Training Centre, showcasing the Atteridgeville Jewellery Project (AJP) - sponsored by AngloGold Ashanti.
The annual Jewellex exhibition provides a platform for Vukani-Ubuntu to show the progress of its learners to the South African jewellery industry. The township-based learners visit the stand at Jewellex, offering them a valuable experience in terms of motivation and exposure. The stand was visited by the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Phumzile Mlambo Nguka as well as Chairman of the Diamond Board and Sub-Sahara Executive Director, Abe Chikane.
A number of enquiries were received at the stand regarding the manufacturing facility at AJP. From these enquiries, substantial orders were generated and manufactured.
- Imfundiso Skills Development
 AngloGold Ashanti also sponsored the Imfundiso Skills Development stand at the Jewellex 2004 Exhibition, held at the Sandton Convention Centre.
The young jewellery design trainees benefitted from the exhibition in the following ways:
- They were able to showcase their African jewellery designs and hand crafted products
- They were able to generate leads and secure sales
- It introduced new learners to the South African jewellery industry
- It provided final year students opportunities for employment
Among the prominent people who visited the stand were Mrs Phumzile Mlambo-Ncquka, the Minister of Mineral and Energy and Mr Ian Redelinghuys, Head of Fine Arts Department at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
Future AngloGold Ashanti Beneficiation ProjectsAngloGold Ashanti's future beneficiation strategy will be to continue to encourage and drive the development of gold products that are of an internationally acceptable standard in terms of design, quality, marketing and sales support and to compete successfully in international markets, resulting in sustainable growth. This applies to jewellery and other decorative products, as well as industrial applications.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
[top]
|
|