Twiga Minerals, the joint venture between the Tanzanian government and Barrick Gold Corporation, has grown to contribute 51% of government’s revenue from the extractive industry.

Tanzania Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative says in its latest report that the North Mara and Bulyanhulu mines – which form the Twiga complex – are also leading the industry’s safety performance.

The Bulyanhulu mine has won this year’s Occupational Safety and Health Award while the North Mara mine has been named the best company for caring for workers with special needs by Tanzania’s Occupational Safety and Health Authority.

Additionally, the Barrick-Twiga Future Forward Education initiative has financed $10-million worth of infrastructure expansion at 64 schools in its first phase, which included the construction of 396 classrooms, 97 dormitories and 600 ablution blocks.

The initiative’s second and third phases will each comprise another $10-million of investment.

Moreover, the Barrick Academy, which was inaugurated early in the year at the closed Buzwagi mine, has trained more than 1 000 foremen, supervisors and superintendents from across Barrick’s Africa and Middle East operations.

The academy aims to train more than 2 000 people this year. 

Barrick took control of the North Mara and Bulyanhulu mines in 2019, with both having been rundown and at a standstill owing to a deadlocked dispute between the government and previous operators.

The company managed to settle the dispute and establish Twiga as a 50:50 economic benefits sharing partnership, which also has a vested 16% shareholding in each mine.

The mines produce at least 500 000 oz/y of gold at the lower half of the industry cost curve.

Barrick president and CE Mark Bristow says ongoing brownfield exploration around the mines continues to define additional opportunities to replace and expand depleted reserves. He adds that Barrick has also made progress on defining new greenfield areas of interest with potential to add new mines to the company’s portfolio.

Bristow also addresses in a media statement the latest in a series of allegations of human rights abuses at the North Mara mine by confirming that the Tanzanian Commission of Human Rights and Good Governance has, following a site visit and an investigation, found no evidence of human rights violations at the mine.