VANCOUVER, BC, June 12, 2020 /CNW/ - B2Gold Corp. (TSX:
BTO) (NYSE AMERICAN: BTG) (NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") is
pleased to announce that it has published its fourth annual
Responsible Mining Report – Raising the Bar – which details
B2Gold's global economic contributions and its environment, social,
and governance management practices and the Company's performance
against key indicators in 2019. Full details are outlined in the
Report, available at www.b2gold.com.
In announcing the release of the 2019 Responsible Mining Report,
Clive Johnson, President & CEO
of B2Gold, said that "when I consider B2Gold's role in sustainable
development, I am pleased that the discourse has shifted from
'making mining sustainable' to 'mining's role in sustainable
development.' Our Report demonstrates how we address environmental,
social and governance aspects with our many stakeholders. I believe
B2Gold takes a unique approach to delivering positive impacts –
raising the bar on ESG performance."
Highlights:
The report demonstrates B2Gold's commitment to responsible
mining and was compiled in accordance with the Global Reporting
Initiative Standards, Core option and the G4 Mining and Metals
Sector Disclosures. B2Gold's performance is also mapped to the
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Economic Value Distribution
In 2019:
- B2Gold generated over $1.3
billion in economic value;
- Distributed $140 million in
employee wages and benefits, $116
million of which was distributed in countries where we
operate;
- Paid approximately $191 million
in taxes and royalties to governments; and
- Invested over $14 million to
programs and initiatives that provide direct support to the people
and communities that we rely on to operate our business.
B2Gold is committed to maximizing local and national economic
benefits from our contracting and purchasing worldwide. We
work to build and expand local supply chains to nurture the growth
of and benefit local suppliers including small and medium
enterprises from the presence of our operations. In 2019, we
purchased approximately 60% of our goods and services from
in-country suppliers in Mali. In
Namibia, we purchased 86% locally
and 61% locally in the
Philippines.
People
Globally, B2Gold has a remarkably diverse workforce, employing
people from many countries and corners of the world. The Company
continues to maintain a high local employment rate by targeting
recruitment efforts at local and national levels. Across all
operations, 95% of our total workforce are local employees and we
continue to train and develop our local workforce into senior
roles. Our company goal, where possible, is to maximize the hiring
of nationals in the countries where we operate in order to optimize
local benefits, share knowledge and build capacity.
B2Gold is deeply committed to gender diversity in our workplace.
Following an internal assessment (in 2017) and senior management
sensitization workshop (in 2018), we initiated a gender diversity
strategy in 2019, including the creation of our Diversity and
Inclusion Policy. This strategy was deployed to further increase
awareness and support diversity and inclusion throughout the
employment lifecycle. Currently the Company has 12% female
employees with 20% female representation in senior positions.
In 2020, the focus of the Company's Gender Diversity and
Inclusion work will be to address short and medium-term actions
including diversity and unconscious bias training, establishment of
Gender Diversity working groups and a thorough review of related
policies and grievance/reporting mechanisms.
Health and Safety
2019 was B2Gold's fourth consecutive year without a fatality –
every one of our 4,217 employees went home to their family every
single day – the ultimate goal of safe production and zero
harm. Unfortunately, we did not reach our target of reducing
both Lost Time Injury and Total Recordable Injury (TRI) frequency
rates across all operations for a fourth consecutive year. However,
we did achieve a Lost Time Injury-free year at our Otjikoto and
Masbate Mines (located in Namibia
and the Philippines,
respectively), and recorded only 3 Lost Time Injuries at our Fekola
Mine (located in Mali). Despite
failing to meet these two targets in 2019, our injury record is
among the industry leaders and we will continue to improve our
performance in 2020 towards our goal of zero harm.
We also strengthened our Visible Felt Leadership programs,
consisting of interactive safety meetings, individual and crew
behaviour-based task observations, and risk assessment reviews and
audits. These programs, in which all supervisors, managers,
department heads, and Executives are required to participate,
strengthen our safety culture of ownership, participation and
positive reinforcement.
Environment
We continued to update our internal tailings management
practices to align with changing industry best practices. In 2019,
we made additional governance improvements including updating our
criteria for embankment annual inspections and independent
third-party reviews. B2Gold is committed to continue to actively
review and incorporate additional best practices into our tailings
facilities' management.
We developed a comprehensive Environmental Strategic Plan for
2020 to 2023, providing a road map for improved environmental risk
management and performance in line with overall B2Gold company
strategy. A key component of this Strategic Plan is our Climate
Change Risk Management Strategy, which consists of three pillars:
Assessing and reducing our carbon footprint, Incorporating climate
change risks into business planning/design, and external reporting
and accountability of our contribution to climate change
action.
In addressing climate change, B2Gold is proud to be an industry
leader in the implementation of renewable energy solutions at our
operations. The electricity generated by our Otjikoto Mine (located
in Namibia) solar power plant has
eliminated over approximately 16,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide
equivalent (CO2e) emissions (through the end of 2019).
Construction is under way at our Fekola Mine (located in
Mali) of a 30 MW solar plant. The
resulting fully-autonomous hybrid (Heavy Fuel Oil and solar) power
plant will be among the largest off-grid facilities of this type in
the world and will reduce the operation's annual Heavy Fuel Oil
consumption by approximately 13.1 million litres and keep
approximately 39,000 tonnes of CO2e from being released
per year.
COVID-19 Response Statement (as of 27
May, 2020)
A compelling test of a Company's commitment to responsible
mining is evident when a crisis emerges. The COVID-19 pandemic,
which has impacted all facets of life in all corners of the world,
has given our stakeholders a unique perspective into the heart of
B2Gold and provides an opportunity to shine a light on our Company
values. B2Gold has responded with excellence in all aspects of our
operations.
Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic stems from extensive
consultation with the government authorities where we work,
employee participation in the decision process, and ongoing
consultation and education in the communities where we operate.
Through the first six months of 2020, the Company's commitments to
excellence include:
- Job Security: ensuring that all employees receive
salaries and benefits while adhering to stay at home orders issued
by the governments in each jurisdiction;
- Health and Hygiene: implementing extensive health and
safety protocols at all operations to maximize hygienic conditions
and social distancing on sites;
- Staying Safe: maintaining an industry leading safety
program at sites to ensure that our health and safety performance
remains among the best in the industry;
- Environmental Care: ensuring that all environmental and
permit requirements have been maintained; and
- Community Resilience: providing additional financial
support to address social impacts in the communities where we live
and work.
In the midst of the global pandemic, B2Gold reported record
operational and financial results during the first quarter of 2020.
These results were achieved without sacrificing our values and
responsible mining principles. We anticipate continuing this
performance for the remainder of 2020, noting that forward-looking
dates referred to in this Report are subject to change due to
potential impacts of COVID-19.
To view or download a copy of the report, please visit
www.b2gold.com/responsible-mining/esg-reporting-portal/.
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, gold production
and sales; and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on B2Gold's
operations; statements regarding activities or achievements of
B2Gold including, without limitation: the potential payment of
future dividends, including the timing and amount of any such
dividends, and the expectation that quarterly dividends will be
maintained at the same level; 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
duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic; 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: the
duration and effects of COVID-19 on our operations and
workforce; 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.
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/b2gold-releases-its-fourth-annual-responsible-mining-report---raising-the-bar-301074994.html
SOURCE B2Gold Corp.