All Gold Fields Mines now Cyanide Code Accredited
October 21 2009 - 11:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
JOHANNESBURG, October 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gold Fields
Limited (Gold Fields) (JSE, NYSE, NASDAQ Dubai: GFI) is pleased to
announce that is has become the first mining group, registered as a
signatory with the International Cyanide Management Institute
(ICMI[1]), to obtain accreditation for all its eligible operations
with the International Cyanide Management Code (Cyanide Code). This
follows full accreditation being achieved at Kloof mine and
Driefontein mine, both located in South Africa. Gold Fields' Chief
Executive Officer, Nick Holland, commented: "The Kloof and
Driefontein achievements follow equally impressive accomplishments
at Beatrix mine, which is also in South Africa and which achieved
its full accreditation in February 2009, Tarkwa and Damang mines in
Ghana that achieved full accreditation in June and May 2008,
respectively, and the new South African mine, South Deep, which
achieved full accreditation in December 2008. Cerro Corona mine in
Peru does not require accreditation as it does not use large
amounts of cyanide in its processes. The Agnew mine in Australia
achieved substantial accreditation in June 2009 and is expected to
achieve full accreditation in December 2009. This means that all of
the eligible Gold Fields mines are now accredited and seven of the
eight have achieved full compliance. We have now achieved the
objective we set ourselves in November 2005, when we became a
signatory to the ICMI Cyanide Code, for all Gold Fields operations
to be ICMI accredited". The president of the ICMI, Paul Bateman,
congratulated Gold Fields on being, "....the first mining group to
obtain accreditation for all its signatory operations...". Gold
Fields' support of the ICMI is consistent with the principles and
objectives of the Group's Sustainable Development Framework, which
addresses every aspect of sustainability in the organization,
including the use of cyanide in the production of gold. The Cyanide
Code is recognized as best practice for cyanide management in the
gold mining industry by the World Gold Council (WGC) and the
Council for Responsible Jewellery Practice (RJC). The ICMI
accreditation process adheres to the principles of the
International Council on Mining and Metals' Sustainable Development
Framework to which Gold Fields is fully committed. It has also been
acknowledged by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the
G8 Group of Nations as the best practice guide for responsible
cyanide management. About Gold Fields Gold Fields is one of the
world's largest unhedged producers of gold with attributable
production of 3.6 million ounces* per annum from nine operating
mines in South Africa, Ghana, Australia and Peru. Gold Fields also
has an extensive growth pipeline with both greenfields and near
mine exploration projects at various stages of development. Gold
Fields has total attributable Mineral Reserves of 81 million ounces
and Mineral Resources of 271 million ounces. Gold Fields is listed
on JSE Limited (primary listing), the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE), the Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX), the
Euronext in Brussels (NYX) and the Swiss Exchange (SWX). For more
information please visit the Gold Fields website at
http://www.goldfields.co.za/. *Based on the annualised run rate for
the fourth quarter of F2009 --------------------------------- [1]
The ICMI is established under the auspices of the United Nations'
Environment Programme & International Council on Metals and the
Environment. The ICMI administers the International Cyanide
Management Code of Practice to which signatories adhere, to manage
cyanide responsibly. DATASOURCE: Gold Fields Limited CONTACT: Gold
Fields Limited : Reg. 1968/004880/06, 150 Helen Road, Sandown,
Sandton, 2196, Postnet Suite 252, Private Bag X30500, Houghton,
2041, South Africa, Tel +27 11 562-9700, Fax +27 11 562-9838;
Enquiries: Media and Investor Enquiries, Willie Jacobsz, Tel
+508-839-1188, Mobile +857-241-7127, email ; Nikki
Catrakilis-Wagner, Tel +27-11-562-9706, Mobile +27(0)83-309-6720,
email ; Media Enquiries: Julian Gwillim, Tel +27-11-562-9774,
Mobile +27(0)82-452-4389, email
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