Randgold - Kibali Project in the Starting Blocks

JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS--(Marketwire - Feb 2, 2012) -

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

KIBALI PROJECT IN THE STARTING BLOCKS

Preparatory work has been completed at the Kibali gold project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where first gold production is scheduled for the end of 2013. Randgold Resources, the project manager and operator, and AngloGold Ashanti each has a 45% stake in Kibali with the DRC parastatal Sokimo owning the balance.

The construction crew has started mobilising on site and should be materially staffed up by the end of February. Long-lead plant and equipment items have been secured, key contractors have been selected and a development management team is being assembled. The relocation programme - a critical component of the predevelopment phase - is progressing smoothly, with two of the 14 affected villages already resettled in the new model village of Kokiza, where five local contractors are building houses at the rate of 300 per month.

Randgold chief executive Mark Bristow says the initial objectives for the development of Kibali have now been achieved. The project is progressing well and the Randgold board has signed off on the development plan, which will be presented for approval to AngloGold Ashanti at the earliest opportunity. In the interim, the Kibali board has approved the next three months' budget of approximately US$80 million to continue the project's impressive momentum."Excellent work done to date is evident by the progress achieved on site and this impetus will be maintained while we tie up the remaining detail required for board approval," says AngloGold Ashanti CEO Mark Cutifani. "Kibali represents a model for partnership in the DRC, with Randgold's field-tested exploration and project development skills complemented by our depth of technical and mine-planning capabilities."

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