VANCOUVER, May 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - B2Gold
Corp. (TSX: BTO, NYSE AMERICAN: BTG, NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold" or
the "Company") announces that it has identified 10
positive COVID-19 cases at the Fekola mine site, 9 of which are
currently asymptomatic, through the Company's ongoing proactive
COVID-19 testing and response plan. Fekola has implemented testing
programs at the mine site, the exploration camp and in Bamako which are designed to identify
asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 and protect Fekola's employees,
both site and Bamako-based, local
community populations, and the general Malian population.
These results do not have a material impact on
operations and the mine continues to operate and maintain both
quarterly and annual production budget guidance.
B2Gold places the safety and well-being of its workforce as the
highest priority and continues to encourage input from all its
stakeholders as the situation continues to evolve. The Company
continues to monitor public and employee sentiment to ensure that
stakeholders are in alignment with the continued operations at the
mine.
The Fekola project, located in Southwest Mali, announced the first positive
COVID-19 case on April, 16 2020 (an employee at the Fekola
exploration camp approximately 5 km from the Fekola project)
despite operating a significantly reduced access basis since
March 24, 2020, allowing only minimal
movement of personnel between Bamako and the Fekola site. Additionally,
starting April 19, 2020, the site was
further locked down and employees from local villages in the Fekola
area were brought to live in temporary accommodations on site to
create an "island setting" with minimal interaction with local
communities. All employees entering the Fekola project are now
required to quarantine for a minimum of twelve days prior to
entering the general site population. Despite these measures,
one new positive COVID-19 case was identified on May 2, 2020. In accordance with standard
protocol, contact tracing was completed and all persons known to
have interacted with the person testing positive were immediately
isolated and, based on their proximity to the positive case, were
tested regardless of whether or not symptoms were present. Based on
this proactive testing, an additional 9 employees have now tested
positive for COVID-19, with all such persons currently being
asymptomatic. All persons testing positive have been removed from
site and protective measures have been reinforced, working closely
with site personnel, local communities, unions and the Government
of Mali.
The Company's procedures continue to evolve in conjunction with
World Health Organization and Center for Disease Control guidelines
as more becomes known about the virus and the Company is regularly
monitoring the situation and following local and national health
authority requirements and recommendations. A critical care
specialist has been consulting to the Company to assist with
developing guidelines as well as local and global implementation
policies. B2Gold is currently reviewing options, with support
from the Malian government, for conducting comprehensive on-site
testing of all employees for the COVID-19 virus with the goal of
testing each employee prior to entering or exiting the Fekola
project.
B2Gold continues to engage with local stakeholders to prevent
the COVID-19 virus from entering the communities around our
operations. Education programs are continuing to be put into place
to protect local communities by promoting hygienic practices and
limit social interactions, in an effort to prevent the spread of
the virus.
The Fekola mine continues to operate without impediments to
mining or milling and expects to meet or exceed its production
estimates for the second quarter of 2020 and annual 2020
guidance. Additionally, all supply lines remain open and the
site continues to receive supplies critical to operating at full
capacity. The expansion of the Fekola mill continues and is
expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2020.
The mining fleet expansion continues to perform well with the first
6040 excavator now operational and loading the first eight 789
trucks, which were delivered to site ahead of schedule. The
second planned delivery of equipment has now been received on site
and is currently undergoing assembly and commissioning.
Expansion of the tailings storage facility remains on schedule and
will provide capacity for tailings disposal in 2023.
About B2Gold Corp.
B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold producer
headquartered in Vancouver,
Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold
mines in Mali, Namibia and the
Philippines and numerous exploration and development
projects in various countries including Mali and Colombia. In 2020, B2Gold forecasts
consolidated gold production of between 1,000,000 and 1,055,000
ounces.
On Behalf of B2GOLD CORP.
"Clive T. Johnson"
President & Chief Executive Officer
For more information on B2Gold, please visit the Company website
at www.b2gold.com or contact:
Ian
MacLean Katie
Bromley
Vice President, Investor
Relations Manager,
Investor Relations & Public Relations
+1
604-681-8371
+1 604-681-8371
imaclean@b2gold.com kbromley@b2gold.com
The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC neither
approve nor disapprove the information contained in this news
release.
This news release includes certain "forward-looking
information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively
"forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable
Canadian and United States
securities legislation, including: projections; outlook; guidance;
forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or
estimated financial and operational performance, gold production
and sales, and budgets on a consolidated and mine by mine basis;
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on B2Gold's operations,
including any restrictions or suspensions with respect to our
operations and the effect of any such restrictions or suspensions
on our financial and operational results; the ability of the
Company to successfully maintain our operations if they are
temporarily suspended, and to restart or ramp-up these
operations efficiently and economically, the impact of COVID-19 on
the Company's workforce, suppliers and other essential resources
and what effect those impacts, if they occur, would have on our
business, our planned capital and exploration expenditures;
statements regarding activities or achievements of B2Gold
including, without limitation: consolidated gold production of
between 1,000,000 and 1,055,000 ounces in 2020. All statements in
this news release that address events or developments that we
expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical
facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words
such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target",
"potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend"
or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative
connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may",
"could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking
statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as
of the date such statements are made.
Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions,
risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond B2Gold's
control, including risks associated with or related to: the
duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of
preventative measures and contingency plans put in place by the
Company to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not
limited to, social distancing, a non-essential travel ban, business
continuity plans, and efforts to mitigate supply chain disruptions;
the volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares; changes
in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and
mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource
estimates; not achieving production, cost or other estimates;
actual production, development plans and costs differing materially
from the estimates in B2Gold's feasibility and other studies; the
ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or
authorizations required for mining activities; environmental
regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations
associated with mining activities; climate change and climate
change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves and
identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of
companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate
new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability
of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential
restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and
the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in
foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign
laws, including those associated with operations in Colombia and including risks related to
changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and
local ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally;
remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure;
fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs
necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in
necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and
country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and
the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties
and joint venture partners; challenges to title or surface rights;
the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and
retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured
loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk;
competition with other mining companies; community support for
B2Gold's operations, including risks related to strikes and the
halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small
scale miners; failures of information systems or information
security threats; the outcome of the ongoing tax assessment by the
Colombian Tax Office (DIAN) in respect of the Gramalote property;
the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial
reporting as required by law, including Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and
sanctions or other similar measures; social media and B2Gold's
reputation; as well as other factors identified and as described in
more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most
recent Annual Information Form, B2Gold's current Form 40-F Annual
Report and B2Gold's other filings with Canadian securities
regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC"), which may be viewed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov,
respectively (the "Websites"). The list is not exhaustive of the
factors that may affect B2Gold's forward-looking
statements.
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the
applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable
as of the date hereof, based on the information available to
management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but
are not limited to, assumptions and factors relating to B2Gold's
ability to carry on current and future operations, including: the
duration and effects of COVID-19 on our operations and
workforce; development and exploration activities; the timing,
extent, duration and economic viability of such operations,
including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the
accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts,
studies and assessments; B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve
estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of
inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; the
timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits; the ability to
meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely
financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future
social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions
and factors generally associated with the mining industry. B2Gold's
forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates
of management and reflect their current expectations regarding
future events and operating performance and speak only as of the
date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any obligation to update
forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's
beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as
required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual
results, performance or achievements could differ materially from
those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking
statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events
anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or
occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold
will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue
reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
statements.
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SOURCE B2Gold Corp.