AngloGold Ashanti has committed to implement the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) at all tailings storage facilities (TSFs).
In total, 22 tailings storages facilities are classifed as “very high” and “extreme”. The balance of our TSFs will be compliant with the GISTM by August 2025.
The GISTM complements AngloGold Ashanti’s Tailings Management Framework that clearly sets our principles, standards, guidelines and accountabilities for the construction, management and oversight of TSFs. This framework focuses on the sound management of all phases of the TSF lifecycle and recognises that each TSF is unique, with no single design or operating technique that can be adopted universally.
In response to changes in legislation in Brazil following the failure of the Brumadinho TSF in Brazil in 2019, AngloGold Ashanti is transitioning to filtered or dry tailings stacking at all our Brazilian operations in advance of the legal deadline for mandatory decommissioning of existing TSFs.
We conduct external TSF reviews in Brazil and have established Independent Tailings Review Boards (ITRBs) for our African and Australian operations, which have reviewed TSFs at Obuasi, Iduapriem, Geita, Tropicana and Sunrise Dam. We have not yet set up ITRBs for our South American operations.
DATA TABLES
Mineralised waste
| Indicator | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Tailings and Heap Leach Waste produced (Megatonnes) | |||||
| Group (including sold assets)* | 44.07 | 70.02 | 80.77 | 80.07 | 89.76 |
| Group (excluding sold assets)* | 44.07 | 42.71 | 40.87 | 39.99 | 45.85 |
| Argentina | 2.95 | 2.27 | 2.89 | 2.88 | 7.65 |
| Australia | 13.24 | 12.87 | 12.73 | 11.85 | 11.69 |
| Brazil | 4.94 | 5.32 | 4.53 | 4.13 | 4.42 |
| Ghana | 6.02 | 5.62 | 5.12 | 5.35 | 5.06 |
| Guinea | 11.49 | 11.22 | 10.38 | 10.43 | 11.68 |
| Mali | 0 | 3.74 | 4.77 | 5.18 | 5.03 |
| South Africa | 0 | 23.57 | 35.13 | 34.90 | 38.88 |
| Tanzania | 5.44 | 5.42 | 5.21 | 5.35 | 5.36 |
| Overburden and waste rock placed (Megatonnes) | |||||
| Group (including sold assets)* | 146.54 | 140.84 | 165.32 | 172.48 | 191.56 |
| Group (excluding sold assets)* | 146.54 | 140.84 | 165.32 | 172.48 | 183.43 |
| Argentina | 14.61 | 11.48 | 17.58 | 15.59 | 18.62 |
| Australia | 64.38 | 75.94 | 86.25 | 79.71 | 85.81 |
| Brazil | 8.55 | 8.58 | 9.04 | 5.45 | 11.45 |
| Ghana | 36.32 | 26.27 | 26.39 | 32.99 | 30.29 |
| Guinea | 11.26 | 15.23 | 10.13 | 7.80 | 7.97 |
| Mali | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.13 |
| South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tanzania | 11.41 | 3.35 | 15.93 | 30.94 | 29.31 |
