Mining is an essential activity that provides a lot of resources to local communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as to the global economy. However, mining should not be done at the expense of the environment. At Barrick, we recognize that mining has an impact on the environment and we are committed to minimizing our environmental footprint as much as possible.
We do this by working to keep products in use, reimagining projects for reuse elsewhere on site, and treating the waste we produce responsibly to mitigate its effects on the natural environment. We are convinced that it is our duty to meet these challenges and minimize our environmental footprint.
The Kibali gold mine, which Barrick operates in the DRC, is located about 220 kilometers east of Haut Uele province and 10% owned by Société Minière de Kilo-Moto (SOKIMO). We are proud to have chosen a partner like SOKIMO, who shares our values in terms of environmental and social responsibility.
However, mining is not the only hot topic in the DRC. The brutality of popular justice in Beni, the state of siege in certain regions, inter-community violence, problems of subcontracting or innovative initiatives for the diversification of the economy are all important subjects that must be addressed by the local and international media.
We believe that the role of the media is crucial in supporting and strengthening democracy and the rule of law in the DRC. This is why we call on journalists to continue to cover these different subjects and to provide balanced and accurate information to the Congolese people, to Africa and to the whole world.
Finally, Barrick is proud to contribute to the development of the Congolese economy and to be a strategic partner for the country. We hope that our efforts to minimize our environmental impact and our partnerships with local actors will bear fruit and help guarantee a sustainable future for the DRC.