afrol News, 23 March - The Africa gold mining giants, AngloGold Ashanti, has been ordered by Guinea’s military junta chief, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara to shut down its operations in Guinea after the company’s director failed to attend the meeting of mine executives.

AngloGold operates Guinea’s biggest gold mine, at Siguiri in the northeast of the country in which the government owns 15 percent stake in the operation.

“At the start of the day I ordered the closure of AngloGold Ashanti,” Mr Camara said in a state TV broadcast, saying the director of the company is not superior to all the other directors who had attended the meeting.

The Company spokesman, Alan Fine said the president issued the order after the company managers failed to attend a meeting called to discuss problems with several companies in the mining industry.

“Discussions are under way between AngloGold Ashanti and the government of Guinea following a meeting with President Camara,” the company said in a statement.

The government decision comes as the company projected a boost in the Siguiri production. According to the company's statement the output climbed to a record 333,000 ounces last year and might increase to 600,000 ounces after 2012.

Mr Camara led a faction of Guinea’s military that seized power on 23 December, a day after the death of President Lansana Conte, who ruled the West African country for more than two decades.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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