Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) – Despite the
operational challenges presented by the recent Mulitaka landslide,
Porgera Gold Mine has met or exceeded its targets since resuming
mining in December last year, with gold production for the first
half of the year above guidance and all-in sustaining costs
trending lower.
Barrick president and chief executive Mark Bristow,
who is in the country to review New Porgera Limited’s (NPL) second
quarter results, said keeping Porgera open in the wake of the
landslide allowed for a swift response by the mine to the
collective recovery effort while sustaining the mine’s contribution
to the provincial and national economies.
“Reacting rapidly to the disaster, our teams put
into operation an air bridge and a temporary pipe across the slip
to be able to supply fuel and essential goods not only to the mine
but to local businesses serving the tens of thousands of residents
of the Porgera valley. The cooperation of the Mulitaka community is
essential to keeping these lifelines open until the permanent
bypass road can be completed,” Bristow said, expressing his deepest
sympathies to the families and friends of victims of the landslide
and reaffirming NPL’s commitment to impacted communities.
“Porgera employees have been on the ground in
Mulitaka daily and are embedded at the Enga Provincial Government’s
disaster relief center in Wabag to assist with all aspects of the
rehabilitation effort. These include the delivery of essential
goods and fuel while contributing geotechnical expertise to assist
with ground stabilization and the design of the new bypass road.
Barrick and JV-partner Zijin also jointly contributed $1 million
towards relief efforts, approximately half of which has already
been deployed.”
During his visit, Bristow met with Prime Minister
James Marape, Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas and Provincial
Administrator Sandis Tsaka to exchange views on the Mulitaka
recovery, the New Porgera Community Development Agreement (CDA)
negotiations, and other issues of common interest. It was agreed
that the CDA must be consistent with the New Porgera project
agreements and ensure that fair and equitable benefits reach all
eligible landowners and the wider Porgeran community, as well as
provincial and national stakeholders.
“NPL stands ready to pay benefits directly to
landowner households, without going through middlemen, once the CDA
is executed. The mine would make additional infrastructure
contributions to the project footprint area through effective use
of the tax credit scheme in collaboration with local and provincial
authorities,” Bristow said.
NPL currently employs 2,500 people, of whom 57% are
from Porgera and Enga, 40% from the rest of Papua New Guinea and 3%
expatriates. First gold, following the resumption of operations at
the mine, was poured in January, electricity from the Hides power
plant in Hela Province was restored in April and a throughput
performance test agreed to with Papua New Guinea was achieved in
June, four months ahead of schedule.
Bristow singled out the lack of law and order as
the greatest threat to the continued operation and profitability of
the mine, requiring the active support of all stakeholders to
ensure that Porgera could continue to deliver benefits in line with
its potential as a Tier One1 asset.
Enquiries:Investor and Media
RelationsKathy du Plessis+44 20 7557 7738Email:
barrick@dpapr.comWebsite: www.barrick.com
Endnote
- A Tier One Gold Asset is an asset with
a $1,300/oz reserve with potential for 5 million ounces to support
a minimum 10-year life, annual production of at least 500,000
ounces of gold and with all-in sustaining costs per ounce in the
lower half of the industry cost curve. A Tier One Copper Asset is
an asset with a $3.00/lb reserve with potential for five million
tonnes or more of contained copper to support a minimum 20-year
life, annual production of at least 200,000 tonnes, and with all-in
sustaining costs per pound in the lower half of the industry cost
curve. Tier One assets must be located in a world class geological
district with potential for organic reserve growth and long-term
geologically driven value addition.
Cautionary Statement on
Forward-Looking Information Certain information
contained or incorporated by reference in this press release,
including any information as to our strategy, projects, plans, or
future financial or operating performance, constitutes
“forward-looking statements”. All statements, other than statements
of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words
“remain”, “on track”, “continue”, “guidance”, “target”,
“potential”, “could”, “will”, and similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release
contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation,
with respect to: Barrick’s partnership with Papua New Guinea;
forecasted production from the Porgera mine; the potential for
Porgera to achieve Tier One status; the sharing of projected
economic benefits from Porgera with Papua New Guinea stakeholders
under the Community Development Agreement; and Barrick’s future
plans, community investments and overall strategy in Papua New
Guinea.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based
upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material
estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below
that, while considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of
this press release in light of management’s experience and
perception of current conditions and expected developments, are
inherently subject to significant business, economic, and
competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance
should not be placed on such statements and information. Such
factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the spot
and forward price of gold, copper, or certain other commodities
(such as diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity); the
speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; changes
in mineral production performance, exploitation, and exploration
successes; changes in national and local government legislation,
taxation, controls or regulations and/ or changes in the
administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or
nationalization of property and political or economic developments
in Papua New Guinea and other jurisdictions in which the Company or
its affiliates do or may carry on business in the future; risks
related to disruption of supply routes which may cause delays in
construction and mining activities, including disruptions in the
supply of key mining inputs due to the invasion of Ukraine by
Russia and conflicts in the Middle East; risk of loss due to acts
of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; risks
associated with new diseases, epidemics and pandemics, including
the effects and potential effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic;
litigation and legal and administrative proceedings; employee
relations including loss of key employees; increased costs and
physical and transition risks related to climate change, including
extreme weather events, resource shortages, emerging policies and
increased regulations related to greenhouse gas emission levels,
energy efficiency and reporting of risks; and availability and
increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor. In
addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business
of mineral exploration, development and mining, including
environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected
formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion, copper
cathode or gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of
inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover
these risks).
Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can
affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking
statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this
press release are qualified by these cautionary statements.
Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual
Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial
securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of
some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the
risks that may affect Barrick’s ability to achieve the expectations
set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press
release.
Barrick disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required
by applicable law.
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