Risk management and internal controls continued
138
Annual Financial Statements 2007
operations at its South African mines. Following meetings
between industry-wide representatives, including AngloGold
Ashanti, and Eskom, agreement was reached whereby mines
were able to resume their power consumption to 90% of average
capacity in return for Eskom guaranteeing a more normal power
supply, including undertakings to more reliably warn companies
when power outages may occur. Mining operations resumed on
Wednesday, 30 January 2008 at AngloGold Ashanti’s mines,
although operations continue to be constrained by the 90%
capacity limitation. Eskom has also advised the company that it
intends to increase power tariffs significantly. The gold
production lost at the company’s South African mines between
25 and 30 January 2008 and the proposed increase in the
power tariff as a result of power disruptions will have an adverse
effect on AngloGold Ashanti’s profitability and financial condition
in 2008 and beyond. Furthermore, should the power outages
continue to increase or should AngloGold Ashanti be unable to
achieve its production targets due to the current constraint, then
the company’s future profitability and its financial condition may
be adversely impacted. For 2008, AngloGold Ashanti is
forecasting 400,000 fewer ounces in South Africa due to the
power constraints.
All of AngloGold Ashanti’s mining operations in Ghana are
dependant for their electricity supply on hydro-electric power
supplied by the Volta River Authority (VRA) an entity controlled by
the government of Ghana. Most of this electrical power is hydro-
generated electricity, although AngloGold Ashanti also has access
to VRA electricity supply from a recently constructed smaller
thermal plant. The VRA’s principal electricity generating facility is
the Akosombo Dam and during periods of below average inflows
from the Volta reservoir, electricity supplies from the Akosombo
Dam may be curtailed, as occurred in 1998, 2006 and the first half
of 2007. In addition, during periods of limited electricity availability,
the national power system is subject to system disturbances and
voltage fluctuations, which can damage the group’s equipment.
The VRA also obtains power from neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire,
which has intermittently experienced some political instability and
civil unrest. These factors, including increased power demand
from other users in Ghana, may cause interruptions in AngloGold
Ashanti’s power supply to its operations in Ghana or result in
increases in the cost of power even if they do not interrupt supply.
Consequently, these factors may adversely affect AngloGold
Ashanti’s results of operations and its financial condition. In order
to address this problem and to supplement the power generated
by the VRA, AngloGold Ashanti have together with the other three
principal gold producers in Ghana acquired (and equally fund) an
85 megawatt, diesel-fired, power plant that could be converted to
gas supply once the anticipated West African Gas Pipeline is
developed. To further reduce the dependence on hydro-electric
power, the VRA is increasing its thermal power generation
capacity by constructing a 126mw thermal plant at Tema which is
scheduled for completion by mid-2008. Despite the additional
capacity, the problem is not entirely solved as low rainfall could
have an impact on power availability.
AngloGold Ashanti’s mining operations in Guinea, Tanzania and
Mali are dependent on power supplied by outside contractors
and supplies of fuel being delivered by road. AngloGold Ashanti’s
power supply has been disrupted in the past and it has suffered
resulting production losses as a result of equipment failure.
Contracts for sale of uranium at fixed prices could affect
AngloGold Ashanti’s operating results and financial condition.
AngloGold Ashanti has entered into contracts for the sale of
uranium produced by some of its South African operations and
may therefore be prevented from realising all potential gains from
an increase in uranium prices to the extent that the company’s
future production is covered by such contracts, or should
AngloGold Ashanti not produce sufficient quantities of uranium to
cover such contracts, it may need to procure or borrow uranium
in the market to meet any shortfall which could adversely affect
AngloGold Ashanti's results of operations and its financial
condition. For example in 2007, AngloGold Ashanti purchased
400,000lbs of uranium at a cost of around $31 million.
Given the uncertainty relating to availability of power, and the
impact power constraints may have on uranium production, the
company is in negotiations to reschedule its uranium contracts and
depending on the outcome of these negotiations, may have to buy
uranium on the open market to fulfil its contractual obligations.
Foreign exchange fluctuations could have a material
adverse effect on AngloGold Ashanti’s operating results and
financial condition.
Gold is principally a dollar-priced commodity, and most of
AngloGold Ashanti’s revenues are realised in or linked to dollars
while production costs are largely incurred in the applicable local
currency where the relevant operation is located. The
weakening of the dollar, without a corresponding increase in
the dollar price of gold against these local currencies, results
in lower revenues and higher production costs in dollar terms.