“Automation is often associated with reduced employment, but we use it as an opportunity to further upskill our workers and to reduce our need for expatriate specialists,” Bristow said. “It is worth noting that Kibali — one of Barrick’s elite corps of Tier One mines — is led by a predominantly Congolese management team in line with our policy of employing and advancing host country nationals.” Bristow said brownfields exploration was extending Kibali’s life by replacing reserves depleted by mining. Barrick’s exploration teams are also hunting for the next Kibali elsewhere in the Congo. During the past quarter, battery technology was successfully integrated into the Kibali power grid to augment the mine’s three hydropower stations and offset the cyclical load of the winder. In line with Barrick’s global move to cleaner energy sources, the new technology will further reduce the mine’s carbon footprint and use of thermal power.

Following a meeting with President Félix Tshisekedi, Bristow said they agreed that Kibali created a thriving local economy to what was previously one of the most deprived regions in the Congo. “The continuing paved extension to the Durba road will provide construction work for local contractors for the next three years,” he said. “Community support continues to be reinforced through other initiatives such as the Renzi agribusiness project and the planned palm oil project.”

The company is also committed to upgrading the Kokiza Training Center for engineers scheduled to start later this year, he said. Additionally, utility buildings initially built as isolation wards during the Ebola outbreak and subsequently used as a quarantine center for COVID-19 cases will now be transitioned to a tropical disease center to serve local communities.