VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - B2Gold Corp. (TSX:
BTO) (NYSE AMERICAN: BTG) (NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") is
pleased to announce that the Company has been selected as the
recipient of two prestigious mining industry awards: the
Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada's ("PDAC") 2021 Sustainability
Award and the Mining Journal's 2020 Most Sustainable
Miner award. All dollar figures are in United States Dollars unless otherwise
indicated.
The PDAC Sustainability Award honours companies that demonstrate
outstanding initiative, leadership and accomplishment in
establishing good community relations during a mine operation.
B2Gold was recognized for its "exemplary resettlement and community
development work with the village of Fadougou at the Fekola gold
mine in Mali."
When B2Gold acquired the Fekola Project in 2014, the village of
Fadougou was located near the perimeter of the proposed open pit.
Although relocating the residents was not a condition of the mine
permit, B2Gold saw this as an opportunity to work with the
community, build a new village and invest in the long-term social
and economic development of the villagers. The collaborative effort
went beyond managing the basic potential risks to health and safety
of the community. This effort led to improved living conditions in
Fadougou by providing services, education and training, building
new infrastructure and diversifying the economy. Over 400 members
of the community were employed during construction, and
traditionally marginalized women were given an important role in
the planning and execution of the resettlement. Most importantly,
the process has positioned the whole region for social and economic
growth and new opportunities beyond the life of the Fekola Mine,
which is one of the fundamental goals of any B2Gold investment
abroad.
B2Gold has also been named the 2020 Most Sustainable
Miner by the Mining Journal. According to the
publication, a number of prominent mining companies were
selected by readers as nominees for this category, and selected
B2Gold as its award recipient for being "emblematic of the change
occurring in the industry, worldwide."
Highlights featured by Mining Journal in their award selection
include the Company's industry-leading safety record, 95% local
employment, gender diversity initiatives to increase the percentage
of females in its total workforce and senior positions, its Rhino
Gold Bar philanthropic conservation program in Namibia and implementation of solar
power-based renewable energy solutions at the Otjikoto mine in
Namibia and Fekola mine in
Mali.
"Our commitment to the sustainable development of our mine
operations is woven into the fabric of our Company: from the
exploration and design phases to project construction, operation
and ultimately closure," said Ken
Jones, B2Gold's Director of Sustainability. "We are
committed to leaving a positive legacy for the communities around
our mines, and we are honoured and challenged by this recognition
to work to continuously improve our performance and maintain our
social license to operate."
B2Gold invested over $14 million
globally in 2019 in the socio-economic development of communities
impacted by its operations, to improve standards of living through
a focus on health and hygiene, education, conservation and
livelihoods. The Company works in coordination with local
authorities and communities to leverage its positive impacts
through strategic partnerships. More information on B2Gold's
environmental and social performance, as well as its safety
performance and economic contributions across its operations can be
found in the Company's annual responsible mining
report, Raising the Bar.
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. B2Gold continues to
forecast total consolidated gold production of between 1,000,000
and 1,055,000 ounces in 2020.
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.
Production results and production guidance presented in this
news release reflect total production at the mines B2Gold operates
on a 100% project basis. Please see our Annual Information Form
dated March 20, 2020 for a discussion
of our ownership interest in the mines B2Gold operates.
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, revenues and cash flows, and capital costs (sustaining
and non-sustaining) and operating costs, including projected cash
operating costs and AISC. 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 effectiveness of
preventative measures and contingency plans put in place by the
Company to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not
limited to, social distancing, a non-essential travel ban, business
continuity plans, and efforts to mitigate supply chain disruptions;
escalation of travel restrictions on people or products and
reductions in the ability of the Company to transport and refine
doré; 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 Mali, Namibia, the
Philippines, Colombia and
Burkina Faso and including risks
related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to
mining and local ownership requirements or resource nationalization
generally, including in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; 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; the lack of sole decision-making
authority related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns
the Masbate Project; 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 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; risks affecting Calibre
having an impact on the value of the Company's investment in
Calibre, and potential dilution of our equity interest in Calibre;
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 related 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; foreign
exchange rates; taxation levels; 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.