Come on Hugo.... Everybody else is doing it.

UPDATE 1-Colombia says to give AngloGold permit this month

By Deisy Buitrago

CARACAS, March 18 (Reuters) - Colombia expects to give AngloGold Ashanti, an environmental permit for exploration at the stalled La Colosa project this month, Mining Minister Hernan Martinez said on Wednesday.

Martinez said AngloGold, the world's No. 3 gold producer, would be allowed to restart exploration and would later have to present an environmental management plan.

"It should be ready in coming days. It is with the environment ministry and yes this will open for exploration and later they can present the environmental management plan, I hope it will happen this month," Martinez said at a meeting in Caracas.

AngloGold Chief Executive Officer Mark Cutifani told Reuters earlier that he expected to receive support in about three months to resume drilling at La Colosa, which the company estimates has reserves of more than 12 million ounces.

The company said production at the mine could start within five years if it gets the go-ahead.

Environmental officials in Colombia halted exploration work at the site in the central Tolima province a year ago, saying the drilling threatened forest reserves in the Andean country.

Cutifani said he had met the president, the minister for mines, the minister for the environment as well as community leaders to discuss the project.

AngloGold (ANGJ.J) hopes to boost output to 6 million ounces by 2013 and 7 million ounces by 2015 based on new mines and expansion of ongoing operations around the world.

(Reporting by Deisy Buitrago, Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by David Gregorio)

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