Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) has reaffirmed its
commitment to Zambia’s economic growth, contributing over $3.7
billion since 2019. In 2024 alone, Lumwana’s operations contributed
$887 million to the economy through royalties, taxes, salaries and
procurement of goods and services, solidifying its position as one
of the nation’s top five taxpayers. Copper production for 2024 was
within guidance, supported by investments in operator training and
an upgraded ultra-class fleet.
Lumwana remains a leader in advancing local
content, with 72% of the $906 million spent on goods and services
in 2024 going to Zambian suppliers and contractors. This brings the
total spend on local goods and services to $2.5 billion since 2019.
The company’s Business Accelerator Programme is further building
capacity, targeting 150 SMEs to support the upcoming Superpit
expansion.
The Lumwana expansion will double its current
copper production to a life-of-mine average of 240kt a year with an
additional 2,500 construction workers to be employed over the
construction period through to 2028.1 In addition to this, the
expansion is set to create a further 550 permanent roles. To meet
these demands, Lumwana is extending its Technical Education,
Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA)
accredited training centre to equip local workers with critical
skills. Currently, 99% of Lumwana’s employees are Zambian
nationals, a testament to Barrick’s focus on sustainable workforce
development.
“We are transforming the surrounding Kalumbila
District into a mining-powered economic hub that will endure beyond
Lumwana’s expanded life of mine,” said Barrick president and CEO
Mark Bristow, speaking from Lumwana. Plans include new employee
housing in the Manyama town, an industrial supplier park and an
airport which is expected to be operational by the end of 2025. The
master plan, developed in collaboration with local authorities,
aligns with Zambia’s integrated development strategy.
Barrick is actively supporting Zambia’s ambition
to increase copper output to 3Mt by 2031 through its Lumwana
expansion and securing further exploration licenses in the Northern
Province. Additionally, the company is supporting Zambia’s power
challenges in collaboration with ZESCO. Since September 2024,
Lumwana’s co-generation initiatives have reduced its reliance on
the grid, helping to alleviate the supply-demand gap. A joint
working group, led by Barrick, is now focused on upgrading the
northwestern power corridor, benefiting mines, local communities
and domestic consumers alike.
Barrick’s vision for Lumwana extends beyond
mining ensuring the benefits of its investments endure well into
the future.
Barrick Enquiries
Group investor and media relationsKathy du Plessis+44 20 7557
7738barrick@dpapr.comWebsite:
www.barrick.com |
Zambia Country ManagerAnthony Malenga+260 977 730 513 |
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Endnote 1
Life of Mine planned tonnes and other production
metrics in this press release represent forward-looking information
and depend on inputs that are subject to a number of known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results to differ materially from those presented. Barrick
does not currently identify Lumwana as a material property. Barrick
is in the process of re-evaluating Lumwana’s status as a potential
material property following the completion of the feasibility of
Expansion Project and the preparation of updated mineral reserves
and resources estimates for Lumwana as of December 31, 2024. A
Technical Report will be prepared in accordance with Form 43-101F1
and filed on SEDAR+ within 45 days of the disclosure of the results
of the feasibility study if Lumwana is classified as a material
property.
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 “expect”, “strategy”,
“estimates”, “target”, “plan”, “guidance”, “project”, “additional”,
“growth”, “potential”, “future”, “focus”, “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 forward-looking
production guidance; Barrick’s Lumwana Super Pit expansion project
and its ability to extend Lumwana’s life of mine; global projected
copper production and demand profiles; estimated copper production
from the Lumwana Super Pit expansion, including projected mining
rates; the financial performance of the Lumwana Super Pit
expansion; the estimated capital budget for the Lumwana Super Pit
expansion; anticipated timelines for delivery of the feasibility
study, project construction, first production, and key execution
timeframes for the Lumwana Super Pit expansion; our ability to
convert resources into reserves and replace reserves net of
depletion from production; estimates of future costs, mine life and
production rates; Barrick’s strategy, plans, targets and goals in
respect of environmental and social governance issues, including
local community development and, climate change initiatives, health
and safety and biodiversity initiatives; electrical grid upgrades
and stability; and expectations regarding future price assumptions,
financial performance and other outlook or guidance.
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); risks
associated with projects in the early stages of evaluation and for
which additional engineering and other analysis is required; risks
related to the possibility that future exploration results will not
be consistent with the Company’s expectations, that quantities or
grades of reserves will be diminished, and that resources may not
be converted to reserves; risks associated with the fact that
certain of the initiatives described in this press release are
still in the early stages and may not materialize; changes in
mineral production performance, exploitation and exploration
successes; risks that exploration data may be incomplete and
considerable additional work may be required to complete further
evaluation, including but not limited to drilling, engineering and
socioeconomic studies and investment; the speculative nature of
mineral exploration and development; lack of certainty with respect
to foreign legal systems, corruption and other factors that are
inconsistent with the rule of law; 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 artisanal and illegal mining;
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 Zambia or other
countries in which Barrick does or may carry on business in the
future; risks relating to political instability in certain of the
jurisdictions in which Barrick operates; timing of receipt of, or
failure to comply with, necessary permits and approvals;
non-renewal of or failure to obtain key licenses by governmental
authorities; failure to comply with environmental and health and
safety laws and regulations; increased costs and physical and
transition risks related to climate change, including extreme
weather events, resource shortages, emerging policies and increased
regulations relating to greenhouse gas emission levels, energy
efficiency and reporting of risks; Barrick’s ability to achieve its
sustainability goals, including its climate-related goals and
greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets; contests over title to
properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties, or over
access to water, power and other required infrastructure; the
liability associated with risks and hazards in the mining industry,
and the ability to maintain insurance to cover such losses; 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 related
to operations near communities that may regard Barrick’s operations
as being detrimental to them; litigation and legal and
administrative proceedings; operating or technical difficulties in
connection with mining or development activities, including
geotechnical challenges, tailings dam and storage facilities
failures, and disruptions in the maintenance or provision of
required infrastructure and information technology systems;
increased costs, delays, suspensions and technical challenges
associated with the construction of capital projects; risks
associated with working with partners in jointly controlled assets;
risks related to disruption of supply routes which may cause delays
in construction and mining activities; risks associated with
Barrick’s infrastructure, information technology systems and the
implementation of Barrick’s technological initiatives, including
risks related to cybersecurity incidents, including those caused by
computer viruses, malware, ransomware and other cyberattacks, or
similar information technology system failures, delays and/or
disruptions; the potential to convert all or part of the mineral
resource for the Super Pit expansion into a mineral reserve
following the completion of the feasibility study; risks related to
competition in the mining industry; employee relations including
loss of key employees; availability and increased costs associated
with mining inputs and labor; and risks associated with diseases,
epidemics and pandemics. 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.
Grafico Azioni Barrick Gold (NYSE:GOLD)
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Da Dic 2024 a Gen 2025
Grafico Azioni Barrick Gold (NYSE:GOLD)
Storico
Da Gen 2024 a Gen 2025