Building a better future: responsible mining by the numbers

“Responsible Mining is central to our way of doing business at Barrick Gold. Only by operating in a safe and socially responsible manner can we maintain our license to operate and ultimately be successful as a company.

“Along with jobs and training, our community programs and partnerships with reputable NGOs have brought improved education, health services and economic development to many communities. This includes some of the most disadvantaged parts of the world.”

– Aaron Regent, Barrick Gold President and CEO

Global: Value-Added

In 2009, Barrick Gold contributed $8.7 billion to the communities in which it operates

• $6 billion – local/regional goods and services
• $1.1 billion – taxes and royalties
• $1.6 billion – wages and benefits
• Jobs: 19,500 employees + 17,000 contractors
• Community Investments: $24 million in 2009*
  (*Includes community investments to improve quality of life, NGO/charitable partnerships, donations, infrastructure such as roads/bridges and medical facilities.)

Developing Countries: Value-Added

Barrick Gold operates in countries struggling with widespread unemployment and poverty, where millions of people lack the necessities of life. The figures below represent Barrick Gold’s economic contribution last year in Peru, Tanzania, the Dominican Republic and other developing countries and emerging economies where the company has a presence.    

In 2009, Barrick Gold contributed $2.8 billion in developing countries

• $1.8 billion – purchase of local/regional goods
  and services
• $719 million – taxes and royalties
• $340 million – wages and benefits
• Community Investments: $17 million

Education and Training

• 26,000 scholarships funded by Barrick Gold worldwide over the last five years.
• $33 million invested in education since 2005. Ranges from school construction, scholarships, teacher training, computer technology, and other initiatives.
• 12 number of schools Barrick Gold has built, with our partners, in Tanzania.
• 4,500 scholarships in the U.S. state of Nevada, home to the company’s flagship Goldstrike mine, since 1986.
• $1.6 million – value of 1% royalties paid to villages near one mine (North Mara) in Tanzania. Nearly 5,000 students have attended school thanks to this fund since 2004.

Health and Well-Being

• $9.5 million invested to improve community health from 2005-2009.
• 600 Tanzanian children with cleft and lip palate have received free surgeries.
• 2,000 school children have participated in Barrick Gold’s dental care program near the Veledero mine in Argentina.
• $1.6 million spent on education, cultural preservation and community initiatives for Western Shoshone tribes in rural Nevada since 2006.
• $5 million donated for relief and rebuilding efforts in Chile, following this year’s devastating earthquake.

Jobs and Economic Development

• 23,000 employees and contractors working for Barrick Gold in developing countries worldwide.
• 13,000 people have participated in training programs associated with two major mining projects: Pasuca-Lama (Chile/Agentina) and Pueblo Viejo (Dominican Republic). 
• 38% increase in regional employment attributed to the Veladero mine in Argentina, since operation began four years ago. Veladero’s economic impact is equivalent to 23% of GDP in San Juan Province.
• $70 million invested in power projects in Tanzania in 2009. The village of Kakola (pop. 17,000) now has electricity for the first time, with more communities planned in the future.
• $1,000 monthly average wage paid to employees in Papua New Guinea – 600% higher than the country’s minimum wage.

Environment

• $89 million spent on environmental protection in 2009. Includes environmental monitoring and mitigation, equipment to reduce emissions and waste disposal.
• 9.6% of Barrick Gold’s electrical power now comes from renewable sources. 
• 20 Barrick Gold mines certified under the International Cyanide Management Code – more than any other mining company. Three more expected this year.
• 5 new environmental standards, raising the bar on company performance worldwide: Water Conservation Standard, Biodiversity Standard, Mine Closure Standard, Environmental Standard, and Climate Change Standard.
• 6 million hours of company training dedicated to environment, safety and health over past five years.

All amounts expressed in US dollars unless otherwise indicated.