VANCOUVER, BC, May 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - B2Gold Corp.
(TSX: BTO) (NYSE AMERICAN: BTG) (NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold" or the
"Company") announces that the Company is monitoring the evolving
political situation in Mali.
B2Gold's mining operations at its Fekola Mine have not been
affected in any way and the Company has continued normal mining and
milling operations. The Company does not expect that any
operational days will be lost due to the political situation in the
country and has confirmed that all B2Gold's personnel are safe. The
Fekola Mine is projected to produce 530,000 to 560,000 ounces of
gold in 2021.
In addition, the Company has been made aware that L'Union
Nationale des Travailleurs du Mali
(the National Union of Malian Workers) has ended the national
strike action in the country as of May 25,
2021, which to date had not had any significant impact on
B2Gold's operations in Mali.
B2Gold will continue to monitor the evolving situation and work
to ensure the safety of its personnel and that the Fekola mining
operations continue normally, providing economic benefits and job
creation both to the communities around the mine and to regional
and national governments. Foreign investment and political
stability in Mali are critical for
the country.
B2Gold is committed to working with the governing authorities in
Mali in order to build on the
strong relationship it has enjoyed to date. The Company will
continue to work in a transparent manner to ensure the continuation
of the positive and mutually beneficial partnership between B2Gold
and the Malian government for the benefit of the Malian people and
all stakeholders. This will include a continuation of the ongoing
discussions with respect to renewal of the Menankoto exploration
permit, which the Company believes it is entitled to receive under
proper application of Malian law.
B2Gold is one of the largest Canadian investors in Mali and the Fekola Mine, in which the
State of Mali has a 20% ownership
interest, and is a flagship investment in the country's mining
sector. In 2020, B2Gold produced 622,518 ounces of gold, an
estimated 27% of Mali's industrial
gold production, from the Fekola Mine, generating approximately
US$300 million in revenues for
Mali, comprised of taxes and
dividends. Since the Fekola Mine commenced production in 2017, it
has generated approximately US$580
million in revenues for Mali.
The Company's total investment in Mali to date is more than US$1 billion and B2Gold is a significant employer
with more than 2,200 employees, of which more than 93% are Malian
nationals. The Company paid approximately US$64 million in employee salaries and benefits
in 2020. Through its investment, B2Gold has provided major economic
benefits including job creation, training, capacity building and
community investments, including a recently announced US$10 million Signature Agricultural Business
Community Project to benefit local communities and provide
sustainable livelihoods going forward.
Since the Company commenced its investment in Mali, B2Gold has always enjoyed a
positive and mutually beneficial relationship with the Government
of Mali. Most recently, B2Gold
partnered with the Government of Mali to assist the people of Mali facing challenges created by the COVID-19
pandemic, as well as its impact on the mining sector. B2Gold
continues to explore additional ways in which it might help the
government deal with the impact of the pandemic.
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, Colombia, Burkina
Faso, Finland and
Uzbekistan B2Gold forecasts total
consolidated gold production of between 970,000 and 1,030,000
ounces in 2021.
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
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 604-681-8371
imaclean@b2gold.com
|
Katie Bromley
Manager, Investor Relations & Public Relations
+1 604-681-8371
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 30, 2021 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; the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic on B2Gold's operations, including any
restrictions or suspensions with respect to our operations and the
effect of any such restrictions or suspensions on our financial and
operational results; the ability of the Company to successfully
maintain our operations if they are temporarily suspended,
and to restart or ramp-up these operations efficiently and
economically, the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's workforce,
suppliers and other essential resources and what effect those
impacts, if they occur, would have on our business, our planned
capital and exploration expenditures; 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: total
consolidated gold production of between 970,000 and 1,030,000
ounces in 2021; and gold production from the Fekola Mine of between
530,000 and 560,000 ounces in 2021. 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.