AngloGold Ashanti has resumed operations at its second processing plant at the Queiroz industrial complex in Brazil, allowing the mining company to process all gold concentrate produced by its Brazilian mines domestically rather than exporting part of its output. The restart follows a 105 million Brazilian reais investment and restores the complex’s processing capacity to about 280,000 tonnes of gold concentrate annually, as reported by Engineering News and CNBC Africa.
The second plant was reactivated this month after being shut down in 2022, primarily for adjustments related to liquid waste treatment. AngloGold restarted the complex’s other plant in 2024, but had continued selling some Brazilian concentrate on the market while operating with reduced processing capacity.
The move strengthens vertical integration across AngloGold’s Brazilian operations, giving the company greater control over the processing stage of its gold production and reducing its reliance on external processing arrangements. The Queiroz complex also produces sulfuric acid, with annual production capacity of approximately 240,000 tonnes.
For AngloGold, bringing all Brazilian concentrate back into its domestic processing chain could improve operational efficiency while retaining more value within its Brazilian mining ecosystem. The development also highlights the strategic importance of Brazil to the company’s global gold portfolio as miners seek to maximise returns amid strong gold prices.
