Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) today said it
understood that the Leigh Day law firm, in conjunction with a
UK-based corporate watchdog known as RAID, has brought or intends
to bring a claim in the UK against the London Bullion Market
Association in connection with the alleged killings of two
individuals in the vicinity of the North Mara gold mine in Tanzania
by police acting on its behalf. Barrick is not a party to these
proceedings.
Barrick president and chief executive Mark
Bristow said the group was proud of its human rights record around
the world and of North Mara’s strong working relationship with the
communities around the mine. Many of the mine’s employees have been
drawn from the surrounding villages and in line with Barrick’s
other operations, North Mara prioritises local employment and
procurement.
“While the vast majority of local residents are
law-abiding, there are rogue bands, armed and well-organised, who
from time to time invade North Mara to steal gold-bearing rock,
presenting a serious risk to the safety of mine personnel and
community members in the process,” Bristow said.
“As recently as last month, North Mara was
attacked by an armed force of almost 100 men. Despite the police’s
attempts to repel them, 71 managed to scale the site’s 9-metre-high
perimeter wall and engaged with the mine’s unarmed security
personnel. The police eventually removed them but one of the
invaders suffered fatal injuries. Two of the policemen were also
injured. Barrick made a public announcement about the incident at
the time. This was far from being a once-off occurrence. North Mara
lives with the constant threat of such invasions,” Bristow
said.
Bristow said Barrick had frequently made it
clear that North Mara’s security personnel are unarmed and that the
mine does not supervise, direct, control or instruct any mission,
assignment or function of the Tanzanian police force, which is a
state institution.
Bristow said Barrick was troubled by RAID’s
involvement in the litigation as that organisation had a long
history of making unfounded allegations about purported human
rights abuses at North Mara. The current matter was the latest in a
series of lawyer-driven litigation concerning security incidents at
and around the mine. Barrick was also concerned that vulnerable
members of the local communities could be persuaded to make legally
meritless claims outside their country in the hope of obtaining
compensation.
“RAID does not have a presence in Tanzania and
has shown no inclination to visit the mine, despite the personal
invitations I have extended to them, most recently in July this
year. Last month a planned visit was cancelled 48 hours before RAID
was expected on site. We remain willing to host such a visit so
that RAID can raise their concerns with the mine’s management, the
police, local administrators and community leaders. It is worth
noting that in a recent meeting we had with the leaders of the
eleven villages around North Mara, they said they had no knowledge
of RAID or the work it purports to do in their communities, and
rejected the organisation allegations as baseless,” Bristow
said.
Many of the mine’s workers are drawn from
neighbouring villages – in line with Barrick’s other operations,
North Mara prioritises local employment – and the mine has a good
relationship with its community, which it supports through
continuing investment in healthcare, education and infrastructure
development projects.
Barrick Enquiries
Investor and media relationsKathy du Plessis+44 20 7557 7738Email:
barrick@dpapr.com |
Website: www.barrick.com
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 “target”, “set to achieve”,
“looking to expand”, “potential”, “future,” “continue”, “improve”,
“would”, “commit”, “advance”, “generate”, “expect”, “will”, and
similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In
particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements
including, without limitation, with respect to: expected production
and cost levels for the North Mara and Bulyanhulu mines and their
Tier One potential as a combined complex; Barrick’s partnership
with the Government of Tanzania under the framework agreement; the
ramp-up of production at North Mara and Bulyanhulu, optimization of
production and fleet upgrades; potential mine life extensions,
resource expansion and new development opportunities identified
through drilling and other exploration activities; planned
investments by Barrick in Tanzania including to develop healthcare,
education and infrastructure; Barrick’s contributions to the local
economy, including local hiring and procurement programs and
spending as well as anticipated contributions to value-adding
national projects.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 silver, diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity); the
speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; changes
in mineral production performance, exploitation, and exploration
successes; risks associated with projects in the early stages of
evaluation, and for which additional engineering and other analysis
is required; failure to comply with environmental and health and
safety laws and regulations; timing of receipt of, or failure to
comply with, necessary permits and approvals; uncertainty whether
some or all of the targeted investments and projects will meet the
Company’s capital allocation objectives and internal hurdle rate;
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 Tanzania and
other jurisdictions in which the Company or its affiliates do or
may carry on business in the future; our ability to convert
resources into reserves; increased costs, delays, suspensions and
technical challenges associated with the construction of capital
projects; risks associated with working with partners in jointly
controlled assets; damage to the Company’s reputation due to the
actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including
negative publicity with respect to the Company’s handling of
environmental matters or dealings with community groups, whether
true or not; 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 risks, including extreme weather
events and resource shortages, related to climate change; and
availability and increased costs associated with mining inputs and
labor. Barrick also cautions that its guidance may be impacted by
the unprecedented business and social disruption caused by the
spread of Covid-19. 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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