B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO, NYSE AMERICAN: BTG, NSX: B2G) (“B2Gold” or
the “Company”) announces that it is closely monitoring a strike
that began on November 29, 2024, by certain employees at the
Company’s Fekola Mine in Mali. Under the notice provided to the
Company by the Fekola workers union, the strike commenced on
November 29, 2024 with a seven day duration ending on December 5,
2024. The Company is continuing to operate the Fekola mill at full
throughput capacity during this period and still expects to be
toward the lower end of its annual production guidance for the
Fekola Mine of between 420,000 and 450,000 ounces of gold in 2024.
The health, safety and security of B2Gold
employees remains the Company’s foremost priority. During the
seven-day strike period, the Company is continuing to operate
critical infrastructure and the mill on a reduced roster,
maintaining the expected gold production profile during the period.
It is important to note that under Malian legislation, employees
are authorized to provide minimum service, and participation in
strikes is not compulsory for employees who elect to continue to
work.
The Company believes that the labour action is
primarily in response to the action B2Gold has taken against a
small number of Fekola employees that previously engaged in illegal
activities detrimental to productivity at the Fekola Mine,
including “go slow” actions by the mining employees and an illegal
sit in at the Fekola management office in August 2024. During this
period, B2Gold urged all Fekola employees to avoid involvement in
these illegal activities and, in line with Malian law, Fekola’s
current union agreements and the B2Gold employee code of conduct,
has commenced the disciplinary process for those employees who
chose to engage in the illegal activities.
B2Gold remains ready and willing to participate
in meetings with the Fekola workers union to reach a resolution,
and will continue to adhere to legal procedures, respecting the
rights of all its employees, inviting the union to engage in a
constructive dialogue, and providing the authorities with all
requested information. Fekola has well-documented and recognized
procedures for raising any form of grievance, as well as
established engagement platforms in place with union
representatives, to engage on issues concerning B2Gold’s employees.
B2Gold is committed to the highest standards for integrity and
transparency and will continue to focus on safe and sustainable
mining at Fekola, which brings great benefits to the workforce, the
surrounding communities and the State of Mali.
In addition, the Company continues to make
progress with the State of Mali on their respective deliverables
and implementation of the necessary steps under the Memorandum of
Agreement signed in September 2024, including the issuance of the
necessary permits to commence exploitation at Fekola Regional
(located 25 kilometers north of the Fekola Mine). Upon issuance of
the exploitation permit for Fekola Regional, mining operations will
begin with initial gold production expected to commence in early
2025, with the potential to generate approximately 80,000 to
100,000 ounces of additional gold production on an annualized basis
from Fekola Regional sources through the trucking of open pit ore
to the Fekola mill. B2Gold continues to have a strong working
relationship with the Malian Government.
About B2Gold
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, the Goose Project under construction in northern
Canada and numerous development and exploration projects in various
countries including Mali, Colombia and Finland. B2Gold forecasts
total consolidated gold production of between 800,000 and 870,000
ounces in 2024.
ON BEHALF OF B2GOLD CORP.
“Clive T.
Johnson”President and Chief Executive
Officer
Source: B2Gold Corp.
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 14, 2024, 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,
and budgets on a consolidated and mine by mine basis; future or
estimated mine life, metal price assumptions, ore grades or
sources, gold recovery rates, stripping ratios, throughput, ore
processing; statements regarding anticipated exploration, drilling,
development, construction, permitting and other activities or
achievements of B2Gold; and including, without limitation:
remaining well positioned for continued strong operational and
financial performance in 2024; projected gold production, cash
operating costs and AISC on a consolidated and mine by mine basis
in 2024; total consolidated gold production of between 800,000 and
870,000 ounces (including 20,000 attributable ounces from Calibre)
in 2024; trucking of selective higher-grade saprolite material
from Fekola Regional to the Fekola mill having the potential to
generate approximately 80,000 to 100,000 ounces of additional gold
production per year from Fekola Regional sources; and the receipt
of the exploitation permit for Fekola Regional and Fekola Regional
production expected to commence in early 2025. 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 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 and 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; 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; 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: 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.
For more information on B2Gold please visit the Company website at www.b2gold.com or contact:
Michael McDonald
VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Development
+1 604-681-8371
investor@b2gold.com
Cherry DeGeer
Director, Corporate Communications
+1 604-681-8371
investor@b2gold.com
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