The Vancouver Sun reports in its Friday edition that Barrick Gold said Thursday it expects to take charges of up to $3-billion (all figures U.S.). A Reuters dispatch to The Sun says Barrick will take a goodwill impairment charge of about $1.8-billion, and asset impairment charges of $1-billion to $1.2-billion, based on its preliminary analysis. The asset writedown is primarily related to its Pascua-Lama mining project in South America, and its Pueblo Viejo project in Dominican Republic. Barrick also said it met its $3-billion debt reduction target through non-core asset sales. Pueblo Viejo, which is jointly owned by Barrick and Goldcorp, in November faced mechanical problems resulting in reduced production in operation until mid-January. The Pascua-Lama project, which was suspended in 2013, has been facing complications from Chile's environmental regulator SMA. The company said on Thursday that it assumes gold price of $1,000 per ounce for 2016 and a long-term gold price of $1,200 per ounce, for impairment testing purposes. Barrick estimated 2015 gold production of 6.12 million ounces, in line with its expectations of six million to 6.15 million ounces. It expects copper prices will average $2.37 a pound.