Anglo Gold Ashanti Ltd., Africa’s largest producer of the metal, said it spilled toxic waste from a gold-dump treatment unit into a tributary of South Africa’s Vaal River.
By Kevin Crowley
The waste from Anglo Gold’s Mine Waste Solutions unit entered the Koekemoer Spruit near the river on Aug. 27, Alan Fine, a company spokesman, said today by telephone. “It could be detrimental to flora and fauna but not to human life,” he said.
AngloGold bought Mine Waste Solutions, which recovers gold and uranium from mine waste, last year for $335 million from First Uranium Corp. (FIU/H)
“An initial investigation shows thieves may have stolen bolts from pipelines near the facility”, Fine said. The spillage does not appear to be part of any chronic problems.