Barrick Gold Fined $9 Million by Argentinian Government

Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX) reported that the government of San Juan province in Argentina has fined the company roughly $9 million in relation to a cyanide spill at the company’s Veladero mine last September. Nine fomrer Barrick employees will also be criminally charged by the Jachal Court of San Juan in connection to the incident.
As quoted in the press release:

Water samples taken immediately following the incident, and in the months following, demonstrate that the solution release did not pose any risks to the health of communities or the environment downstream from the mine. These results are consistent with studies ordered by federal and provincial regulators and the provincial court, including those conducted by the National Institute of Water (INA), the National University of San Juan (UNSJ) and the Center for Investigations for the Prevention of Mining and Industrial Contamination (Cipcami).

Barrick President Kelvin Dushnisky said:

The safety of our employees, local communities and the environment has always been — and will continue to be — our highest priority. Following the incident last September, we implemented a comprehensive action plan to strengthen controls and safeguards at the mine, while addressing the root causes of the solution release. These actions include intensified water monitoring, the addition of heating controls and pressure sensing equipment to manage freezing risks, new procedures related to leach pad operations and additional water management controls.

Click here for the full press release.