Solid Q2 Performance Means Barrick is On Track to Achieve Full-Year Production Targets

Barrick Gold Corporation reported preliminary second quarter sales of 1.22 million ounces of gold and 123 million pounds of copper, as well as preliminary second quarter production of 1.15 million ounces of gold and 120 million pounds of copper.  Group gold production for the first six months of 2020 was 2.4 million ounces, at the midpoint of the Company’s 4.6 to 5.0 million ounce guided range for the year.

President and chief executive Mark Bristow said these results positioned Barrick well to achieve its guidance for the year, despite the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdowns1.  Comprehensive programs to counter the spread of Covid-19 are in place at all of Barrick’s operations and it continues to take the necessary steps to manage the impact of the pandemic on its business.

The average market price for gold in the second quarter was $1,711 per ounce, while the average market price for copper in the second quarter was $2.43 per pound.

Preliminary second quarter gold production was, as previously guided, lower than the first quarter of 2020.  This was mainly due to the impact of Covid-19 at Veladero in Argentina where quarantine restrictions were lifted in April and movement and social distancing restrictions slowed the remobilization of employees and contractors back to site, a planned maintenance shutdown at Pueblo Viejo in the Dominican Republic and reduced production at Porgera in Papua New Guinea as the mine was placed on care and maintenance on April 24, 2020.  Preliminary second quarter gold sales were in line with the previous quarter, and were higher than production in the second quarter following the start of exports of concentrate stockpiled in Tanzania.  Second quarter gold cost of sales per ounceare expected to be 4-6% higher, total cash costs per ounce3 are expected to be 2-4% higher and gold all-in sustaining costs per ounce3 are expected to be 7-9% higher, respectively, than the first quarter of 2020. 

Preliminary second quarter copper production and sales were both higher than the previous quarter.  Second quarter copper cost of sales per pound2 are expected to be 5-7% higher than the prior quarter.  C1 cash costs per pound3 are expected to be in line and copper all-in sustaining costs per poundare expected to be 4-6% higher, respectively, than the first quarter of 2020.

Barrick will provide additional discussion and analysis regarding its second quarter production and sales when the Company reports its quarterly results before North American markets open on August 10, 2020.

The following table includes preliminary gold and copper production and sales results from Barrick’s operations:

  Three months ended Six months ended
  June 30, 2020 June 30, 2020
  Production Sales Production Sales
Gold (equity ounces (000s))    
Carlin(61.5%) 235 234 488 490
Cortez (61.5%) 132 132 260 260
Turquoise Ridge (61.5%) 79 79 163 166
Phoenix (61.5%) 35 39 70 69
Long Canyon (61.5%) 40 38 66 65
Nevada Gold Mines (61.5%) 521 522 1,047 1,050
Pueblo Viejo (60%) 111 115 254 259
Loulo-Gounkoto (80%) 141 157 282 280
Kibali (45%) 90 96 181 184
Veladero (50%) 49 35 124 92
North Mara (84%) 68 67 133 137
Porgera (47.5%) 24 24 86 87
Tongon (89.7%) 64 68 125 126
Hemlo 54 54 111 112
Buzwagi (84%) 20 56 42 80
Bulyanhulu (84%) 7 30 14 37
Total Gold 1,149 1,224 2,399 2,444
         
         
Copper (equity pounds (millions))    
Lumwana 72 75 136 138
Zaldívar (50%) 28 30 59 60
Jabal Sayid (50%) 20 18 40 35
Total Copper 120 123 235 233

Second Quarter 2020 Results

Barrick will release its Second Quarter 2020 Results before market open on August 10, 2020.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, president and CEO Mark Bristow will host an interactive webinar on the results at 11:00 EDT / 15:00 UTC.  The presentation will be linked to the webinar and conference call.  Participants will be able to ask questions.

Webinar
US and Canada (toll-free) 1 800 319 4610
UK (toll-free) 0808 101 2791
International (toll) +1 416 915 3239

The Q2 2020 presentation materials will be available on Barrick’s website at www.barrick.com.

The webinar will remain on the website for later viewing, and the conference call will be available for replay by telephone at 1 855 669 9658 (US and Canada) and +1 604 674 8052 (international), access code 4792.

Enquiries:

Claudia Pitre
Analyst, Investor Relations and Corporate Access
+1 416 307 5105
cpitre@barrick.com 

Kathy du Plessis
Investor and Media Relations
+44 20 7557 7738
barrick@dpapr.com 

See Campaign: http://http://www.barrick.com
Contact Information:
Kathy du Plessis
Investor and Media Relations
+44 20 7557 7738
barrick@dpapr.com

Tags:
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Contact Information:

Kathy du Plessis
Investor and Media Relations
+44 20 7557 7738
barrick@dpapr.com 

Asiya