Morila Sale Concluded
PRESS RELEASE
NYSE : GOLD TSX : ABX
All amounts expressed in US dollars
Morila Sale Concluded
Bamako, Mali, 10 November 2020 – Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) and
AngloGold Ashanti Limited (JSE:ANG)(NYSE:AU) today concluded the sale of their interest in
Morila Gold Limited, which owns 80% of the Morila gold mine in Mali, to Firefinch Limited
(previously named Mali Lithium Limited) (ASX:FFX) for $28.8 million cash. The state of Mali
continues to hold the remaining 20%.
Noting that all Morila employees had been re- employed by Firefinch, Barrick president and chief
executive Mark Bristow said the transaction would benefit the mine’s Malian stakeholders by
giving Firefinch the opportunity to extend its life by accessing satellite resources and adapting the
infrastructure. The mine had been scheduled for closure in 2021.
Barrick has been the operator of the mine and the sale is in line with its policy of selling non-core
assets to concentrate on Tier One mines – those with the capacity to produce at least 500,000
ounces of gold annually for more than 10 years in the lower half of the industry’s cost curve .
Bristow said Barrick remained committed to its partnership with Mali, where it owns and operates
the Tier One Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex.
The discovery and development of Morila served as the springboard for the Barrick legacy
company Randgold Resources’ expansion into Africa. Since it went into production in October
2000 it has produced 6.9 million ounces of gold and paid more than $2.5 billion to its stakeholders
in the form of dividends and taxes. Morila transitioned to a stockpile treatment operation in 2009
and began processing tailings in 2013.
Barrick Enquiries
President and CEO
Mark Bristow
+1 647 205 7694
+44 788 071 1386
COO, Africa and Middle East
Willem Jacobs
+44 779 557 5271
Investor and Media Relations
Kathy du Plessis
+44 20 7557 7738
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.barrick.com
BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE
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or future financial or operating performance, constitutes “forward-looking statements”. All statements, other
than statements of historical fact, are forward -looking statements. The words “would”, “benefit”, “extend”,
“remain”, “commit” and similar expressions identify forward- looking statements. In particular, this press
release contains forward- looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to the anticipated
benefits from the transaction including the potential extension of the life of the Morila gold mine and related
benefits for the community and country. 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
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commodities (such as silver, diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity); 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, including acknowledgment of the transaction by the state of Mali; the speculative nature of
mineral exploration and development; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation, and
exploration successes; diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; changes in national and local
government legislation, taxation, controls, or regulations and/or change s in the administration of laws,
policies, and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments
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employee relations including loss of key employees; business opportunities that may be presented to, or
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formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, and gold bullion, copper cathode, or gold or copper concentrate
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