RANDGOLD RESOURCES LIMITED: Abnormal rainfall impacts Loulo complex

JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS--(Marketwire - Aug 30, 2011) -

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





ABNORMAL RAINFALL IMPACTS PRODUCTION AT LOULO COMPLEX



Bamako, Mali, 29 August 2011 - Following abnormally heavy rainfall,
Randgold Resources announced today that third quarter production at its
Loulo/Gounkoto gold mining complex in Mali would be negatively
impacted.



Chief executive Mark Bristow said more than 400mm (15.7 inches) of rain
had fallen in the past 12 days (equivalent to about 40% of the region's
annual precipitation) of which in excess of 300mm (11.8 inches) fell
within a six day period. Believed to be a one in a hundred year event,
this has swamped the pumping capacity in the Gara and Gounkoto pits and
affected the mining schedule. The impact of the abnormal rains has
been exacerbated by heavy rainfall in the Guinea catchment area of the
Faleme River, which runs through the complex, resulting in the haulage
and service roads between the Gounkoto mine and the Loulo plant being
cut off."We have managed to open up a longer alternate route to supply the
Gounkoto operation with explosives and diesel, and although we are
mining the upper benches at both Gara and Gounkoto, it is going to take
a couple of weeks to drain the bottom of the pits and re-establish ore
production in the high grade sections of the orebodies," Bristow said.



He said that there was enough stockpiled ore at Loulo to keep the plant
running at full capacity but the rain-imposed limitations on mining had
reduced the flexibility of the feed grade. This situation was expected
to be resolved by the middle of September, provided there were no more
abnormally heavy rains. However, as a result of the past fortnight's
rain, third quarter production would be lower than expected, with the
team now aiming to exceed the 80 000 ounces it achieved at the Loulo/
Gounkoto complex last quarter, instead of the planned target of 100 000
ounces. "Provided the Loulo mining schedule and supply routes get back to
normal during September, fourth quarter production is expected to get
back to planned levels. Randgold's annual production guidance for the
year has been slightly revised from between 750 000 and 790 000 ounces
to between 740 000 and 760 000 ounces, on a consolidated basis,"
Bristow said.



RANDGOLD RESOURCES ENQUIRIES:

Chief Executive  Financial Director  Investor & Media Relations
Mark Bristow     Graham Shuttleworth Kathy du Plessis
+44 788 071 1386 +44 1534 735 333    +44 20 7557 7738
+44 779 775 2288 +44 779 771 1338     randgoldresources@dpapr.com 


Website:  www.randgoldresources.com 





CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Except for the
historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this
news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the US
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and applicable Canadian securities
legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited
to, statements with respect to the future price of gold, the estimation
of mineral reserves and resources, the realisation of mineral reserve
estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs
of production, reserve determination and reserve conversion rates.
Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the
use of forward-looking terminology such as 'will', 'plans', 'expects'
or 'does not expect', 'is expected', 'budget', 'scheduled',
'estimates', 'forecasts', 'intends', 'anticipates' or 'does not
anticipate', or 'believes', or variations of such words and phrases or
state that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would',
'might' or 'will be taken', 'occur' or 'be achieved'. Assumptions upon
which such forward-looking statements are based are in turn based on
factors and events that are not within the control of Randgold and
there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking
statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity,
performance or achievements of Randgold to be materially different from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements,
including but not limited to: risks related to the integration of
Randgold and Moto, risks related to mining operations, including
political risks and instability and risks related to international
operations, actual results of current exploration activities,
conclusions of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as
plans continue to be refined, as well as those factors discussed in the
section entitled 'Risk Factors' in Randgold's annual report on Form
20-F for the year ended 31 December 2010 which was filed with the US
Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') on 31 March 2011.
Although Randgold has attempted to identify important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be
no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Randgold does not
undertake to update any forward-looking statements herein, except in
accordance with applicable securities laws.

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO US INVESTORS: the SEC permits companies, in their
filings with the SEC, to disclose only proven and probable ore
reserves. We use certain terms in this release, such as 'resources',
that the SEC does not recognise and strictly prohibits us from
including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to
assume that all or any parts of our resources will ever be converted
into reserves which qualify as 'proven and probable reserves' for the
purposes of the SEC's Industry Guide number 7.

                    This information is provided by RNS
          The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END