Awareness of the environmental impact of mining is growing alongside global concerns about climate change, water stress and biodiversity loss. At Barrick, we’ve taken steps to reduce waste and pollution from our operations, devising new projects to reuse certain products and handling waste responsibly. Responsible use of resources is paramount and we are working to reduce waste generation and increase recycling in line with Sustainable Development Goal 12.
We believe in our duty at Barrick to meet these challenges and minimize our environmental footprint. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we operate the Kibali gold mine, located in the northeast of the country. Belonging to Kibali Goldmines SA, a joint venture owned 45% by Barrick and 10% by Société Minière de Kilo-Moto (SOKIMO), we have implemented measures to reduce the environmental impact of our mining operations.
As a result, we are able to provide a safer and cleaner environment for workers and local communities in the Kibali region. We work closely with our partners to ensure effective coordination between the various stakeholders in our mining activities. We are convinced that our commitment to the environment is inseparable from our commitment to local communities.
We also understand the importance of local economic initiative for sustainable and responsible development. The Democratic Republic of Congo is rich in natural resources, but our commitment to economic diversification also involves setting up local partnerships. We recently signed an agreement with BRALIMA to strictly apply the law on subcontracting in the DRC, as part of a partnership with ARSP, to reinforce our commitment to sustainable economic development.
The DRC is facing major political and economic challenges, particularly in the run-up to the December 2023 elections. We are convinced that local partnerships, such as the one we have established with BRALIMA, can help strengthen local communities and to develop sustainable economic projects. We look forward to continuing to work with our local partners to advance sustainable and responsible development.