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A Place of Value

Pueblo Viejo, Dominican Republic

At Barrick, we know the environment in which we work and our host communities are inextricably linked, and we apply a holistic and integrated approach to sustainability management.

Working to proactively and holistically manage all aspects of sustainability is not only the right thing to do for our communities and wider society — it is also good for our business.

Every mine will eventually close, but that should not be the end of the story.

Cleaning up the Margajita River

When we took operational control of our Pueblo Viejo mine in 2012, the local Margajita River was commonly known by locals as the Coca-Cola river due to its dark colour — a result of acid rock drainage from the mine.

Since then we have worked diligently to restore the river in the Dominican Republic by investing in a state-of-the-art onsite water treatment plant, and making sure all water discharged from the mine meets international standards.

As a result of these efforts, the river has returned to its natural state, and many fish species have returned after an absence of many years.