GOUNKOTO (LOULO PERMIT)

Randgold Resources Ltd. provided a production update for GOUNKOTO (LOULO PERMIT), Mali.

Randgold Resources reported a 69% increase in its total mineral resources and a 75% rise in its attributable mineral reserves for the year to December 2009. Randgold’s annual resource and reserve declaration published as part of its 2009 annual report today, shows that at the attributable level, measured, indicated and inferred resources rose from 16.13 million ounces to 27.33 million ounces over the year. This is mainly attributable to the delineation of new resources at Gounkoto and the acquisition of a 45% stake in Kibali. Attributable proved and probable reserves grew from 8.87 million ounces to 15.56 million ounces, largely due to the conversion of resources to reserves at Gounkoto and Massawa, an increase in ownership from 84% to 89% of the Tongon project, and the sharp rise in Kibali’s reserves.

Randgold reported exploration drill hole results for the Gounkoto Gold Project in western Mali during the quarter ended Sep30/09. Highlights include 10.3m@13.28g/t from 94.2m in hole GKDH05 and 1.92m@31.77g/t from 158.6m and 1m@21.00g/t from 168.35m in hole GKDH06 and 4.38m@34.27 from 156.32m in hole GKDH07. Randgold Resources is to fast-track its Gounkoto project after a scoping study and first resource declaration confirmed robust economics well in excess of the company's hurdle rates.