Barrick Joins Fight Against Covid-19 in Mali
NEWS RELEASE
All amounts expressed in US dollars.
Barrick Joins Fight Against Covid-19 in Mali
Bamako, Mali – April 9, 2020 – Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD) (TSX:ABX) today made a $1.5 million
donation to the Malian government to support its Covid-19 containment campaign. Barrick’s senior executive
for West Africa, Mahamadou Samake, made the presentation.
The donation includes an amount of $426,000 being provided for special equipment to strengthen the medical
infrastructure regionally and in the communities around the company’s mines.
President and CEO Mark Bristow said Barrick, through its legacy company Randgold, had a 25-year partnership
with the Malian government, not only in the development of its gold mining industry but also in the field of
community health. The latter included its leadership of the industry in supplementing the neglected tropical
disease programs in 2012, its role in combating the Ebola outbreak in 2014, and its ongoing collaboration with
community health centres on immunisation programs.
“That is why, in addition to the extensive preventative measures we have already introduced at our mines, we
are making this contribution to the government’s fight against the pandemic,” he said. “We are also providing
significant assistance to the surrounding communities and at the regional level.”
Barrick is also considering the early payment of taxes to assist the government financially. This issue is currently
being discussed with the tax authorities.
“Barrick has a strong culture of caring for the welfare of its employees and communities. Our financial
strength, well-established prevention practices and procedures, and the experience we gained from dealing
with two Ebola pandemics around our African operations, will stand us in good stead as we face this new and
unprecedented challenge,” Bristow said.
“Over the past quarter of a century, Barrick and its legacy company Randgold Resources have contributed
$7.2 billion to the Malian economy in the form of taxes, royalties, salaries and payments to local suppliers. Over
the same period, our mines in Mali paid $2.7 billion in dividends, taxes and royalties to the state – almost three
times the $1 billion dividend received by Barrick.”
Barrick enquiries
President and chief executive
Mark Bristow
+1 647 205 7694
+44 788 071 1386
Investor and media relations
Kathy du Plessis
+44 20 7557 7738
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.barrick.com
BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION NEWS RELEASE
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
Certain information contained in this press release, including any information as to Barrick’s strategy or future financial or operating
performance, constitutes “forward-looking statements”. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking
statements. The words “support”, “provide”, “consider”, “will”, “challenge” and similar expressions identify forward-looking
statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to funds
to be provided to strengthen local and community medical infrastructure around Barrick’s mines in Mali; preventative measures
implemented by those mines to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic; and the potential early payment of taxes to the
Malian government.
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 Barrick 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: the risks associated with Covid-19 and other infectious
diseases presenting as major health issues; failure to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and regulations;
operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities, including geotechnical challenges, and
disruptions in the maintenance or provision of required infrastructure and information technology systems; 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 Mali; lack of certainty with respect to foreign
legal systems, corruption and other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; risks associated with illegal and artisanal
mining; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; timing of receipt of, or failure to comply with,
necessary permits and approvals; litigation and legal and administrative proceedings; damage to the Barrick’s reputation due to the
actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the Barrick’s handling of
environmental matters or dealings with community groups, whether true or not; contests over title to properties, particularly title to
undeveloped properties, or over access to water, power, and other required infrastructure; 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. 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.