JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS--(Marketwire - Jan 24, 2012) -
RANDGOLD RESOURCES LIMITED Incorporated in Jersey, Channel Islands Reg. No. 62686 LSE Trading Symbol: RRS Nasdaq Trading Symbol: GOLD GOUNKOTO BOOSTS LOULO COMPLEX AS DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES Loulo, Mali, 24 January 2012 - A robust contribution from the new Gounkoto mine enhanced the capacity and flexibility of Randgold Resources' Loulo complex to increase gold production in 2011 despite the substantial challenges presented by the development of two underground mines and the plant expansion. Gounkoto accounted for a significant part of the complex's annual production, giving Loulo the capacity to grow overall output while getting its Yalea underground mine on track and pressing ahead with the Gara underground development. Because it accesses the Loulo infrastructure on a toll basis, Gounkoto is expected to recoup its relatively low capital cost by the end of the first quarter of 2012. This means among other things that the State of Mali, a 20% shareholder, will get the benefit of an early dividend as well as full ownership of its stake. The Mali government has agreed to split the Loulo mining permit, making Gounkoto a standalone operation. Chief executive Mark Bristow said this was a further instance of the importance of Randgold's philosophy of fostering mutually beneficial partnerships with its host countries. Bristow also said the Loulo complex represented a textbook illustration of the effectiveness of Randgold's strategy of creating value through discovery and development, as well as of its commitment to building sustainably profitable businesses."The complex has grown from an 800000 ounce resource to a fully integrated, long-life opencast and underground operation, targeting production of 500000 ounces this year. With 9 million ounces of reserves, significant grades and a huge upside, it will be profitable at any realistically conceivable gold price," he said. Click on, or paste the following link into your web browser, to view the associated PDF document. http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0694W_1-2012-1-24.pdf RANDGOLD RESOURCES ENQUIRIES: Chief Executive Financial Director Mark Bristow Graham Shuttleworth +44 788 071 1386 +44 1534 735 333 +223 66 75 01 22 +44 779 771 1338 Group Operations Manager: West Africa Investor & Media Relations Samba Toure Kathy du Plessis +223 66 75 77 41 +44 20 7557 7738 +223 20 20 16 94 randgoldresources@dpapr.com Website: www.randgoldresources.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange END
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