AngloGoldAshanti Ltd. requested the International Centre for Settlement ofInvestment Disputes for arbitration in light of at its GhanaianObuasi mine,the company said May 5.

Its case was registered with the U.S.-based disputeresolution institution on May 2 and authorities in Ghana were notified thatproceedings have commenced.

Illegal miners took control of parts of the project earlierthis year, keeping the miner from proceeding with redevelopment plans. InFebruary, AngloGold Ashanti withdrew all nonessential staff from Obuasi amid concernsover their safety after military protection was abandoned, despite an ongoingservices agreement.

The company said that it had "been forced to invoke thedispute resolution provisions in its mining lease," after Ghanaianauthorities failed to bring the situation under control.