Barrick: Chilean Supreme Court Won’t Consider Pascua-Lama Appeal

Barrick Gold Corp. (TSX:ABX,NYSE:ABX) announced that the Supreme Court of Chile will not consider its appeal of a lower court decision regarding sanctions placed on the Pascua-Lama project by the country’s environmental regulator.

As quoted in the press release:

An earlier ruling by Chile’s Environment Court found that the environmental regulator (known as the SMA) improperly determined administrative fines levied against Barrick for permit infractions identified in 2013. Barrick sought to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court, arguing the fines were calculated based on applicable law and commonly accepted legal principles. The Supreme Court declined to consider the appeal on procedural grounds, ruling that Barrick is not a party to the case, because the original action was brought against the government regulator.

As a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling, the SMA will now reevaluate the administrative fines it imposed on the Pascua-Lama project.

According to Reuters, there’s been no word on the possible size of a new fine. The news outlet also notes that this issue at Pascua-Lama is just the latest in a string of troubles — including political opposition and cost overruns — to plague the project.

Click here to read the full Barrick Gold Corp. (TSX:ABX,NYSE:ABX) press release.