@ Gogh, mag sein ! 
Aber da bin ich lieber in Ghana ! 
RANDGOLD RESOURCES FORECASTS STRONG GROWTH FOR 2005
London, 29 March 2005 (LSE:RRS)(NASDAQ:GOLD) - London and Nasdaq listed gold miner Randgold Resources has forecast strong organic growth in 2005 with its new mine at Loulo scheduled to go into production and the hunt continuing for further substantial deposits in six African countries.
In the company’s annual report for 2004, published today, chief executive Dr Mark Bristow said production from its Morila joint venture was expected to exceed 600 000 ounces this year at a cost of US$200/oz while Loulo, due to pour its first gold in July, was slated to contribute 100 000 ounces at US$230/oz.
“Our priority for 2005 is to bring the Loulo mine into production as planned. At the same time, we are continuing to expand the resource there through deep drilling, and we are progressing the economic study to the point where we can make a thoroughly informed decision about the development of an underground operation to extend the open-pit mine currently being completed,” Bristow said. The report notes that the Loulo resource is already at the 8 million ounce mark and is continuing to expand.
“We will keep up the pressure at Morila to ensure that the recent recovery is sustained and that the mine meets its production targets. And in our well-entrenched positions in Africa’s major gold belts, we will continue the hunt for plus 2 million ounce deposits.”
Bristow said the company underpins its growth through its proven organic growth strategy but at the same time remains alert to deals that could add to shareholder value.
“The best way to create value is through discovery, as our record shows. The key component of our growth strategy is therefore an aggressive exploration programme, designed to discover profitable ounces and build a well-balanced portfolio,” he said.
“Over the past year we again delivered on our promise to expand our country exposure and project portfolio throughout the major gold belts of east and west Africa. We now have a groundholding of 8 700km² and 115 targets in six countries, in five of which exploration and drilling programmes are currently under way. Aside from the work being done at and around Morila and Loulo in Mali, we are active in Tanzania, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Ghana.”
The company also has an advanced project at Tongon in the Côte d’Ivoire, which has been on hold since the outbreak of civil unrest in that country. 
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............ That can happen in Africa !!! 
Bristow noted that the Tongon feasibility study was currently being updated in anticipation of a return to stability.
Also in the annual report, chairman Philippe Liétard noted that the company had cash resources of almost US$80 million and was securely positioned to fund its exploration programmes and the equity portion of the Loulo development, as well as to pursue corporate opportunities.
“In fact, one of the defining characteristics of Randgold Resources is its capacity to continue investing substantially in its future growth,” he said.
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