Barrick Gold hit with fine as a cobalt licks in BC Creek

Barrick Gold (TSE: ABX) (NYSE: GOLD) was documented for environmental problems of 114,750 USD for environmental problems in his disused nickel plates outside of Hedley, British Columbia.

The punishment applies between September 2021 and October 2023 for 17 separate cases, when Hedley Creek had far more cobalt than according to the guidelines defined by the Ministry of the Environment. The Hedley Creek is a tributary of the Similkamen River.

Cobalt is of essential importance for both human life and animal life, but becomes toxic in high concentrations. This represents a special threat to invertebrate water types that serve as a source of key food for salmonids.

Barrick tried to reduce the amount of cobalt in mining fluctuations, but struggled to find a scientific solution. The cobalt generated in nickel plate dates is more of a complex connection than free cobalt, which is more easily filtered out. Barrick also claims that complex cobalt is stronger and therefore represents less environmental risk.

The company has also argued that the revised cobalt limit introduced in 2004 is inappropriately low and difficult to meet. However, the ministry found that Barrick was never used to increase the border. It has also repeatedly allowed excess cobalt in Hedley Creek.

The criminal complaint stated that Barrick has known for at least one decade that she could apply for a change in the cobalt limit, but did not do so.

The supervisory authorities quoted Barrick between February 2019 and September 2020 Barrick for dozens of cobalt violations in the Nickel Plate Mine and punished the company with 35,000 US dollars for these violations in 2022.

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Barrick has suspended numerous allegations

The mine was exposed to a gold mine as an underground and later as an open-pit gold mine from the 1900s to 1996. Barrick manages wastewater treatment at the location, and the supervisory authorities regularly monitor compliance with the Environmental Management Act.

The Barrick Gold Corporation is one of the world's largest gold mining companies and has suspended numerous allegations of human rights violations and environmental injuries in their global operations.

In the Porgera Gold Mine in Papua New Guinea, Barrick was involved in serious human rights violations, for example.

In 2011, Human Rights Watch documented cases of violence that were committed by the private and public law enforcement authorities associated with the mine. The company recognized these problems and initiated internal studies, which led to compensation programs for victims. However, reports indicate that some victims who pursued legal steps have received higher compensation than those who took part in the company's Barrick program.

Environmental problems were also outstanding because the practice of the mine of the disposal of river fluctuations led to a strong contamination of local water systems. This had drastic effects on both the ecosystem and the local communities.

In the Dominican Republic, Barrick's Pueblo Viejo mine was in the center of environmental and social conflicts. The operations of the mine have led to contamination of rivers and agricultural areas, which have a negative impact on health and livelihood of local community. The residents have reported skin lesions and other health problems and attributed pollutants from the mine. Despite the community inquiries after moving from 2013, hardly any progress was made.

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New Tailings damn announcement with spikes stresses

In 2025, the announcement of a new Tailing DAM project made tensions again, with local farmers protesting against inadequate compensation and potential environmental risks. In Argentina, an environmental incident occurred in Barricks Veladero-Mine in 2015 when a pipeline of Cyanid solution breaks and spilled about one million liters of cyanid-loaded water.

This spill contaminated local rivers and prompted the authorities to temporarily close the mine and to initiate legal steps against the company. Officials calculated nine managers in connection with the spill.

In the meantime, the residents of Tanzania submitted a lawsuit in Canada against Barrick in 2002, in which the participation of the company was involved in extrajudicial murders by the police in the Mine North Mara. The plaintiffs claimed that Barrick had control over police measures at the location.

In November 2024, however, the Supreme Court of Ontario dismissed the case due to a lack of responsibility. However, Barrick claimed that the case did not belong in the Canadian dishes.

In Mali, Barrick's operations in the Loulo-Gounkoto mines have met with disputes with the government on questions of the environment and social responsibility.

In October 2024, Mali Barrick accused Barrick about these aspects. The company contested any misconduct and emphasized its efforts to improve the economic advantages of the state from the mines.

The Malian government has requested more than 512 million USD to outstanding taxes and dividends. This has led to tensions that endanger the continuity of Barrick's operations in the country.

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