The foundation of Barrick Gold’s exploration strategy is a deep organizational understanding that discovery through exploration is a long-term investment and the main value driver for the business – not a process. Barrick Gold’s exploration strategy has multiple elements that all need to be in balance to deliver on its business plan for growth and long-term sustainability.

First, Barrick Gold seeks to deliver projects of a short- to medium-term nature that will drive improvements in mine plans. Second, it seeks to make new discoveries that have the potential to add to Barrick Gold's Tier One Gold Asset portfolio. Third, Barrick Gold works to optimize the value of its major undeveloped projects and finally, it seeks to identify emerging opportunities early in their value chain and secure them by an earn-in or outright acquisition, where appropriate.