Barrick Gold’s gold mines in Tanzania have been successfully revived, with North Mara delivering significant improvements and underground production starting at Bulyanhulu, the Canadian major reported late last month.
Barrick Gold assumed control of the operations of the former Acacia Mining in September 2019 and is now managing the mines through the Twiga joint venture with the Tanzania government.
“These mines are now very different businesses,” Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow said in a statement.
“North Mara’s life-of-mine production profile has been vastly improved and implementation of its comprehensive water management plan is on track.
“Bulyanhulu’s resurrection was a particularly exceptional achievement, considering that both its shaft and plant had to be refurbished extensively. The new mine plan is designed to deliver a long-term value-driven operation,” Bristow said.
Barrick plans to make the combined North Mara and Bulyanhulu mines its seventh Tier 1 asset by bringing them into the lower half of the industry’s cost curve.
North Mara posted a record throughput in the fourth quarter and Bulyanhulu restarted the processing of underground ore during the quarter. Bulyanhulu is scheduled to be in full production when its ramp-up is completed, expected during the first half of this year.
Meanwhile, Barrick is continuing to work on improving relations with host communities.
“Past grievances have been resolved and the remaining land legacy issues are being addressed. Fully functional community development committees have been established to focus on education, health, water and agribusiness, and 21 agribusiness groups from 11 villages are already being supported at North Mara. Barrick also proved its value as a partner through its tangible support for the government’s pandemic containment campaign.”
During 2020, Barrick invested $800-million in the Tanzanian economy in taxes, permit fees, infrastructure development, salaries and payments to local suppliers.
The company continued to recruit locally, with more than 600 new workers employed during the year at Bulyanhulu alone. Tanzanian nationals now make up 96% of the mines’ total workforce.