Barrick Joins Fight Against Covid-19 in Tanzania

All amounts expressed in US dollars

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, April 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Twiga Minerals Corporation, a joint venture between Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD) (TSX:ABX) and the Tanzanian government, has announced a support program to assist the country in combating and containing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Barrick’s chief operating officer for its Africa and Middle East region, Willem Jacobs, said in addition to measures already introduced to protect workers and their families living and around its mines, the company was contributing $1.7 million in the form of critical equipment and expertise to help prevent the spread of the virus in Tanzania.

Of this amount, $960,000 is destined for the national level, $505,000 to the regional level and $250,000 to the local level.

Jacobs said at the national level Barrick would be concentrating its efforts and contributions on Mloganzila as an isolation unit for confirmed cases and the Mabibo hostel as a quarantine centre.  Regional support will be focused on Musoma, Shinyanga and Geita where isolation centres will be created and equipped.  The company is engaging with the relevant regional commissioners to convert its support into immediate action.

Jacobs said as a committed partner to Tanzania it would also be keeping its mines operational during this challenging period to support the country’s economy.  It was also engaging with its contractors and suppliers to enlist their support for the cause.

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Certain information contained in this press release, including any information as to Barrick’s strategy or future financial or operating performance, constitutes “forward-looking statements”. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words “support”, “assist”, “contain”, “contribute”, “support”, “will”, “believe”, “engage”, “offer” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to financial support and preventative measures implemented by Twiga Minerals Corporation to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in Tanzania, including by equipping regional isolation centres and engaging with regional commissioners; and efforts to support the local economy and engage with contractors and suppliers while maintaining the Tanzanian mines operational.

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