VANCOUVER, March 18, 2020 /CNW/ - B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO,
NYSE AMERICAN: BTG, NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold" or the
"Company") has been monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak
and the potential impact at B2Gold's operations since mid-February
and, as such, has put measures in place and introduced
additional precautionary steps to manage and respond to the risks
associated with COVID-19 to ensure the safety of our employees and
surrounding communities where we work while continuing to
operate.
All B2Gold corporate personnel travel has been restricted to
absolute minimum requirements and employees in the corporate
offices have been encouraged to work remotely. At each of our mines
in Mali, Namibia and the
Philippines, and at our development project in Colombia, we have implemented several control
measures for dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19. These include
pre-screening for symptoms and travel history with possible
COVID-19 exposure of any employees, visitors and contractors (site
personnel) prior to any travel to or from a site and isolation,
where necessary, from the general site population. Each site has
implemented restrictions and isolation procedures that are
particular to each region's situation and response capabilities.
Procedures continue to evolve according to the World Health
Organization and Center for Disease Control guidelines as more
becomes known about the virus. The Company is regularly monitoring
the situation and following local and national health authority
requirements and recommendations. A critical care specialist has
been consulting the Company on the guidelines and global
implementation.
To date, B2Gold has not experienced any incidents related to
COVID-19 at its sites or corporate offices and continues to operate
all mine facilities and is proceeding with its projects as
previously planned. The mill expansion and solar facility projects
at the Fekola Mine in Mali are
still projected for completion in the third quarter of 2020, the
Gramalote Project in Colombia
continues to drill off the Inferred Mineral Resource and progress
its feasibility study, and development of the underground mine at
Otjikoto in Namibia is moving
forward. The Company does not expect material delays in the current
schedules, but will continue to monitor the situation, seek advice
from specialists where required and adjust plans, if necessary, to
adapt to the ever-changing landscape.
B2Gold continues to engage with local stakeholders to prevent
the virus from entering the communities around our operations.
Education programs are being put into place to protect the
communities by promoting hygienic practices and limit social
interactions in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus.
About B2Gold Corp.
B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold producer
headquartered in Vancouver,
Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold
mines in Mali, Namibia and the
Philippines and numerous exploration and development
projects in various countries including Mali and Colombia. In 2020, B2Gold forecasts
consolidated gold production of between 1,000,000 and 1,055,000
ounces.
ON BEHALF OF B2GOLD CORP.
"Clive T. Johnson"
President & Chief Executive Officer
For more information on B2Gold, please visit the Company website
at www.b2gold.com or contact:
Ian MacLean
|
Katie
Bromley
|
Vice President,
Investor
Relations
|
Manager, Investor
Relations & Public Relations
|
+1
604-681-8371
|
+1
604-681-8371
|
imaclean@b2gold.com
|
kbromley@b2gold.com
|
The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC neither
approve nor disapprove the information contained in this news
release.
This news release includes certain "forward-looking
information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively
"forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable
Canadian and United States
securities legislation, including: projections; outlook; guidance;
forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or
estimated financial and operational performance; statements
regarding activities or achievements of B2Gold including, without
limitation: consolidated gold production of between 1,000,000 and
1,055,000 ounces in 2020. All statements in this news release that
address events or developments that we expect to occur in the
future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
are statements that are not historical facts and are generally,
although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan",
"anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule",
"forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar
expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or
conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might"
occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the
opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements
are made.
Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions,
risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond B2Gold's
control, including risks associated with or related to: the
volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares; changes in
tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and
mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource
estimates; not achieving production, cost or other estimates;
actual production, development plans and costs differing materially
from the estimates in B2Gold's feasibility and other studies; the
ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or
authorizations required for mining activities; environmental
regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations
associated with mining activities; climate change and climate
change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves and
identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of
companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate
new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability
of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential
restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and
the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in
foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign
laws, including those associated with operations in Colombia and including risks related to
changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and
local ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally;
remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure;
fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs
necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in
necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and
country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and
the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties
and joint venture partners; challenges to title or surface rights;
the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and
retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured
loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk;
competition with other mining companies; community support for
B2Gold's operations, including risks related to strikes and the
halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small
scale miners; failures of information systems or information
security threats; the outcome of the ongoing tax assessment by the
Colombian Tax Office (DIAN) in respect of the Gramalote property;
the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial
reporting as required by law, including Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and
sanctions or other similar measures; social media and B2Gold's
reputation; as well as other factors identified and as described in
more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most
recent Annual Information Form, B2Gold's current Form 40-F Annual
Report and B2Gold's other filings with Canadian securities
regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC"), which may be viewed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov,
respectively (the "Websites"). The list is not exhaustive of the
factors that may affect B2Gold's forward-looking
statements.
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the
applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable
as of the date hereof, based on the information available to
management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but
are not limited to, assumptions and factors relating to B2Gold's
ability to carry on current and future operations, including:
development and exploration activities; the timing, extent,
duration and economic viability of such operations, including any
mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and
reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and
assessments; B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve estimates,
projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the
price and market for outputs, including gold; the timely receipt of
necessary approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and
future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on
reasonable terms when required; the current and future social,
economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and
factors generally associated with the mining industry. B2Gold's
forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates
of management and reflect their current expectations regarding
future events and operating performance and speak only as of the
date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any obligation to update
forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's
beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as
required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual
results, performance or achievements could differ materially from
those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking
statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events
anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or
occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold
will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue
reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
statements.
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SOURCE B2Gold Corp.