VANCOUVER, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - B2Gold Corp.
(TSX: BTO, NYSE AMERICAN: BTG, NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold" or the
"Company") is pleased to announce a ground-breaking donation
of 1,000 ounces of gold, with a value of approximately US$1.5 million, to support black rhino
conservation and the communities that protect them in Namibia, Southern
Africa.
Today, the northwest of Namibia
is home to the last and largest free-roaming population of black
rhinos in the world. Their home is an area of 25,000 square
kilometers, with no national park status, few roads and no control
over who comes in or out. The recovery of this population of black
rhino is due to the dedication of the organizations and communities
that have committed themselves to the protection of black rhinos in
northwestern Namibia. A
rhino-based economy has developed in Namibia's northwest, with rhino tracking
central to tourism development that in turn provides jobs, income
and hope for the future for Namibians.
The Rhino Gold Bar initiative was recently launched at two
separate events attended by high-level government officials and
conservationists in Windhoek,
Namibia and in Cape Town, South
Africa, at the Indaba mining conference. In making the
announcement, Clive Johnson,
President and CEO of B2Gold, outlined the Company's goal of
redefining conservation financing stating, "The donation represents
the first time that gold, a natural resource from the ground, is
being used to provide sustainable funding to community-backed
initiatives for the protection of the iconic black rhino, a
critically-endangered global treasure."
The 1,000 ounces of gold was produced at B2Gold's Otjikoto gold
mine located in Namibia. With this
donation, 1,000 limited-edition Rhino Gold Bars in varying sizes
will be produced and available for sale to the public. On the
reverse of the Rhino Gold Bar, a black rhino mother and calf is
represented, symbols of hope for the future of the species. The
obverse shows the Namib desert, an evocative and recognizable image
strongly associated with Namibia.
The Rhino Gold Bars are available for purchase through a
third-party at the spot price of gold on the date of sale plus a
15% conservation premium, and will be available in 500 gram, 1
ounce and ½ ounce denominations. The proceeds from the sale of the
Rhino Gold Bars will be managed by B2Gold and an Advisory
Committee, which includes representatives from Save the Rhino Trust
Namibia, Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation,
Namibia Chamber of Environment, and the Namibia Ministry of
Environment and Tourism. The conservation premium will be used to
fund the production of a follow-up range of gold bars or coins,
which will be distinctly different from the first 1,000 Rhino Gold
Bars, ensuring that this ground-breaking initiative remains
self-sustaining. A portion of the proceeds will be invested to
provide long-term sustainable financing for black rhino
conservation, while significant funding will be applied immediately
to conservation actions in the field, including support for
patrols, intelligence activities, and to support rural communities
for whom the protection of rhinos is their birthright.
B2Gold is a responsible mining company that demonstrates
leadership by going beyond industry standards and continuing to
raise the bar on its own performance. The Company's principles of
fairness, respect, transparency and accountability are part of the
Company's corporate culture and are applied globally across its
Corporate Social Investment projects. Not only is the Company
committed to minimizing the impact on the land in areas where it
operates, it also invests in projects that have nothing to do with
mining and everything to do with the protection of the planet and
the quality of life for future generations.
For more information on the Rhino Gold Bar and how to purchase,
please view the information package on B2Gold's website at
www.b2gold.com or by sending an email to rhino@b2gold.com.
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. 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 the 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 statements regarding the
availability of the Rhino Gold Bars for purchase and the management
of the proceeds from the sale of the Rhino Gold Bars. 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", "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 those identified and as described in
more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most
recent Annual Information Form, the Company'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. There can be no assurance that such 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. The Company 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.
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SOURCE B2Gold Corp.