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At 6 June 2025
Coordinates: Lat -48.390474°, Long -68.236706°
Guidance Note
Refer to our guidance note
Description and Lifecycle Design
Cerro Vanguardia mine is located 150 km northwest from Puerto San Julián, in the Argentinean province of Santa Cruz.
The Cerro Vanguardia TSF started operations in 1998. The TSF has been constructed in 7 stages, with a starter wall built to 198.5 mamsl, the first 5 stages were constructed downstream. The 6th stage was constructed using the centerline method, the downstream method, and the transition between both methods. The 7th stage was built using the upstream method consisting of a 3 m raise, from 221.5 mamsl to 224.5 mamsl. A 0.5 m depth spillway allows the safe passing of the design flood associated with a 10,000 AEP storm event.
AngloGold Ashanti has an internal corporate tailings management team including an Accountable Executive. AngloGold Ashanti has appointed an internal Responsible Tailings Facility Engineer (RTFE) an external Engineer of Record (EoR) and a Senior Independent Technical Reviewer (SITR) at this facility to oversee and govern the design, construction, operations, maintenance, and surveillance of the facility.
Cerro Vanguardia TSF General Information
| Start of Operation | 1998 |
| TSF Classification | GISTM – High ANCOLD – High C |
| Construction Method | Stages 2 to 5: Downstream Stage 6: Downstream and centerline Stage 7:Upstream |
| Current Deposition Method | Slurry tailings deposition through rotational sub-aerial spigots |
| Target Annual Deposition Rate | 1.25 Mt |
| Current Tailings Tonnage | 27.9 Mt |
| Design/License Capacity – Volume/Tonnage | 31.8 Mt |
| Estimated End-of-Life | December 2027 |
| Current Crest Elevation | 224.5 masl |
| Maximum Embankment Height | 224.5 masl |
| Maximum Height | 41 m |
| Outer Wall Profile | 2.5H:1V for downstream configurations 3H:1V for the upstream raise |
Consequence Classification
| GISTM Consequence Classification | High |
Risk Assessment
AngloGold Ashanti’s comprehensive risk management system uses designs and controls to eliminate risks and where there are remaining risks, these are mitigated such that the residual risk is a As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).
A risk assessment was completed for the Cerro Vanguardia TSF in a series of virtual and in-person workshops sessions between August and November 2024. A Potential Failure Mode Analysis (PFMA) was completed initially to identify potentially important failure scenarios that required further analysis. This was followed by a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to characterize the level of risk by estimating the potential consequences of failure and the likelihood of occurrence. Participants of these sessions included representative personnel from CVSA, AGA and SRK (the designer and EoR).
From this process, 7 PFMs were assessed to be the most relevant in terms of likelihoods and levels of consequences. Actions and mitigations measures were incorporated in the design stages, and construction and operational procedures. Risks are also identified and mitigated through numerous layers of reviews and inspections with follow up actions and recommendations developed to mitigate identified risk.
Impact Assessment
The impact of a potential flow failure has been assessed considering the impact to human health and life, the environment, social and cultural impacts, as well as the infrastructure and economic impacts. These potential impacts have been used to inform the TSF Classification and the risk assessment consequence definition and the mitigation measures to be implemented.
Areas affected by Impact Zone
There are no facilities with permanently stationed personnel along the flow path of each failure.
Facilities affected by flooding:
- Drainage chambers and associated ancillary infrastructure;
- Laguna de los Flamencos and laguna La Chacra;
- Medium-voltage power line poles;
- Core storage area;
- Main access road to the site;
- Main mining access road;
- Auxiliary roads within the TSF area;
- PLS pond of Heap Leaching.
Performance Reviews
AngloGold Ashanti has a comprehensive Tailings Review System which incorporates reviews from multiple levels and internal and external parties. All AngloGold Ashanti TSFs are subject to the following reviews:
- RTFE Performance Reviews – typically quarterly
- EoR Inspections –Quarterly
- SITR Review – Annually
- AngloGold Ashanti Corporate Review – Annually
- Independent 3rd Third Party Regulatory Review – Annually
- Dam Safety Review – Typically every five years
| Reviews | Most Recent Review | Next Planned Review |
|---|---|---|
| EoR | April 2025 | August 2025 |
| ITRB | December 2024 | October 2025 |
| DSR | December 2024 | December 2029 |
AngloGold Ashanti has adopted the following ranking system for independent reviews: Priority 1 actions are classified as a material finding.
Priority 1 – A dam safety issue considered immediately dangerous to life, health, or the environment, or presents a significant risk of regulatory enforcement.
Priority 2 – If not corrected, a concern that could result in a dam safety issue leading to injury, health impact or discontinuity of operations.
Priority 3 – Single occurrence of deficiency or non-conformance that alone would not be expected to result in dam safety issues, discontinuity of operations or regulatory intervention.
Priority 4 – A recommendation based on good practice, improvement, or risk reduction.
No material findings (Priority 1) have been identified for the Cerro Vanguardia TSF.
Environmental and Social
Environment and Social monitoring programmes form part of AngloGold Ashanti’s Health, Safety, Environment (ISO14001) and Social Communities (HSEC) management systems, which act to fulfill the environmental social management system requirements under the GISTM. These environment and social monitoring programmes are comprehensively reviewed, and mitigation measures implemented as and where required. Further information on of our environment and social monitoring programmes, and performance results can be found in AngloGold Ashanti’s Sustainability Reports.
There is potential for ground water seepage from TSFs and ground water conditions around all our TSFs are regularly monitored. Where groundwater impact plumes exist, their migration is modelled and managed, as necessary to avoid interactions with potential receptors.
No material findings have been made in relation to the environmental and social monitoring programme in relation to the TSF.
An easily accessible and effective grievance mechanism has been implemented so that any formal complaints can be submitted by stakeholders and resolved.
Emergency Response and Preparedness
The mine has a dedicated Emergency Response Team and Emergency Management and Response Plan (EMRP). The EMRP identifies potential events and incidents, defines those personnel responsible for implementation of the response, and describes procedures for notification, communication and escalation of the emergency response.
The TSF Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning (EPRP) is a dedicated plan that is appended to the site wide EMRP and the facility operation, maintenance and surveillance manual. In the event of a tailings dam related emergency, the Emergency Response Team would be the first responders. The EPRP relies on the latest Dam Break study conducted in November 2024. The escape routes and meeting points are sign posted. These were developed based on the zone of influence. An in-house EPRP training exercise was documented as having been undertaken in November 2022.
Financial Capacity
AngloGold Ashanti confirms it has adequate financial capacity to cover the agreed share of estimated costs of planned closure, early closure, reclamation, and post-closure monitoring and maintenance of the Cerro Vanguardia TSF and its appurtenant structures.
Guidance Note
Certain statements contained in this document, other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, those concerning the economic outlook for the gold mining industry, expectations regarding gold prices, production, total cash costs, all-in sustaining costs, cost savings and other operating results, return on equity, productivity improvements, growth prospects and outlook of AngloGold Ashanti’s operations, individually or in the aggregate, including the achievement of project milestones, commencement and completion of commercial operations of certain of AngloGold Ashanti’s exploration and production projects and the completion of acquisitions, dispositions or joint venture transactions, AngloGold Ashanti’s liquidity and capital resources and capital expenditures, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the outcome and consequences of any potential or pending litigation or regulatory proceedings or environmental, health and safety issues, are forward-looking statements regarding AngloGold Ashanti’s financial reports, operations, economic performance and financial condition.
These forward-looking statements or forecasts are not based on historical facts, but rather reflect our current beliefs and expectations concerning future events and generally may be identified by the use of forward-looking words, phrases and expressions such as “believe”, “expect”, “aim”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “foresee”, “forecast”, “predict”, “project”, “estimate”, “likely”, “may”, “might”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “seek”, “plan”, “scheduled”, “possible”, “continue”, “potential”, “outlook”, “target” or other similar words, phrases, and expressions; provided that the absence thereof does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans or goals are or may be forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements or forecasts involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause AngloGold Ashanti’s actual results, performance, actions or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, actions or achievements expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Although AngloGold Ashanti believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and forecasts are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct.
Accordingly, results, performance, actions or achievements could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, changes in economic, social, political and market conditions, including related to inflation or international conflicts, the success of business and operating initiatives, changes in the regulatory environment and other government actions, including environmental approvals, fluctuations in gold prices and exchange rates, the outcome of pending or future litigation proceedings, any supply chain disruptions, any public health crises, pandemics or epidemics (including the COVID-19 pandemic), the failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting or effective disclosure controls and procedures, the inability to remediate one or more material weaknesses, or the discovery of additional material weaknesses, in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and other business and operational risks and challenges and other factors, including mining accidents.
For a discussion of such risk factors, refer to AngloGold Ashanti’s annual report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended 31 December 2024 filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause AngloGold Ashanti’s actual results, performance, actions or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also have material adverse effects on AngloGold Ashanti’s future results, performance, actions or achievements. Consequently, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
AngloGold Ashanti undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by applicable law. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to AngloGold Ashanti or any person acting on its behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements herein.