Predevelopment paves way for early Kibali start

JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS--(Marketwire - Apr 18, 2011) -

RANDGOLD RESOURCES LIMITED
Incorporated in Jersey, Channel Islands
Reg. No. 62686
LSE Trading Symbol: RRS
Nasdaq Trading Symbol: GOLD


PREDEVELOPMENT PROGRESS PAVES WAY FOR MID-YEAR MINE CONSTRUCTION START
AT KIBALI

Kibali, Democratic Republic of Congo, 18 April 2011 - Rapid progress
on the predevelopment phase of the giant Kibali gold project is paving
the way for the targeted mid-year start of mine construction.

A key element of this phase is the relocation action programme (RAP),
in terms of which some 15 000 people will move from the mine site into
purpose-built housing in the new model village of Kokiza nearby.
Construction of the 3 700 houses needed at Kokiza started in February
and families are being offered a choice of four types, each on a 600m2
stand. Also planned for Kokiza are the construction of a commercial
centre, a Roman Catholic Church, preparatory and secondary schools, and
a hospital.

The implementation of the RAP is supervised by a resettlement working
group, made up of elected representatives of the 14 affected villages,
the area's tribal and local authorities, and the central government's
territorial administrator. It is expected that the first of the 14
villages will be relocated towards the end of the second quarter this
year.

The RAP construction programme has been a significant job creator for
the local community, and there are currently more than 820 Congolese
employed on the project. Of these, less than 5% are semi-skilled,
which means that in addition to being gainfully employed, the rest are
receiving valuable on-the-job training. Wherever possible, materials
such as aggregates and timber are being purchased locally.

ENQUIRIES:

Mark Bristow                    Willem Jacobs
Kibali chairman & Randgold CEO  Randgold GM operations Central & E+223 6675 0122/+44 788 071 1386 Africa
                                +27 72 614 4053/+27 82 905 6797

Louis Watum                     Kathy du Plessis
GM Kibali Goldmines             Randgold investor & media relations
+243 994 035 464/+256 782 239   +44 20 7557 7738
767                              randgoldresources@dpapr.com 

Website:  www.randgoldresources.com 


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