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Barrick Gold Corp
Symbol ABX
Shares Issued 1,166,892,835
Close 2018-05-14 C$ 17.25
Market Cap C$ 20,128,901,404
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Barrick signs natural gas supply deal with AES Andres

2018-05-14 10:15 ET - News Release

Mr. Greg Walker reports

BARRICK ANNOUNCES CONVERSION OF PUEBLO VIEJO POWER PLANT TO NATURAL GAS

Barrick Gold Corp.'s Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corp. (operator of the Pueblo Viejo mine) has signed a 10-year natural gas supply contract with AES Andres DR SA in the Dominican Republic that will enable the conversion of the Quisqueya I power generation facility from heavy fuel oil to natural gas. Pueblo Viejo Dominicana is a joint venture between Barrick (60 per cent) and Goldcorp Inc. (40 per cent). All amounts expressed in this news release are in U.S. dollars.

Quisqueya I is owned and operated by Pueblo Viejo Dominicana and supplies power to the Pueblo Viejo mine. Converting the facility from heavy fuel oil to natural gas is expected to reduce the mine's average cost of sales and all-in sustaining costs by approximately $54 per ounce over the life of the mine, supported in part by higher margins on the sale of excess power to the national energy grid. Cost savings expected from the conversion of the facility from heavy fuel oil to natural gas are reflected in the company's most recent consolidated cost guidance for 2019 to 2022.

"Pueblo Viejo is already a core asset with industry-leading margins and a strong record of operational excellence," said Greg Walker, senior vice-president of operational and technical excellence. "Converting the mine's power plant to natural gas is expected to reduce Pueblo Viejo's cost structure and drive incremental improvements in cash flow over the life of the mine, driving additional long-term value for our owners, as well as our government and community partners."

In addition, the use of natural gas is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with Pueblo Viejo by approximately 260,000 CO2Eq (carbon dioxide equivalent) tonnes per year.

Pueblo Viejo Dominicana will invest roughly $7.5-million to convert Quisqueya I to natural gas, an investment that significantly exceeds Barrick's 15-per-cent hurdle rate. AES will construct a new gas pipeline to the facility, with commercial gas production expected to begin in the second half of 2019.

Barrick is currently advancing prefeasibility studies for a plant expansion at the Pueblo Viejo mine that has the potential to significantly increase throughput at the operation. Conversion of the power plant to natural gas is anticipated to further strengthen the economics of the project.

Pueblo Viejo Dominicana was advised by the Houston office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.

The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Geoffrey Locke, PEng, manager of metallurgy of Barrick, who is a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

We seek Safe Harbor.

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