Barrick Produced 6.12 Million Ounces Of Gold

TORONTO, - Barrick Gold Corporation reported that production at the Goldstrike Mine in Nevada was in line with expectations for 2015 at 1.053 million ounces of gold. All-in sustaining costs of $658 per ounce came in below guidance, reflecting improved underground mining costs, optimized haulage, and lower contractor costs. Goldstrike also achieved commercial production from the new thiosulfate leaching (TCM) circuit in the third quarter. Throughput and recoveries from this innovative circuit, which does not use cyanide, continue to improve with ongoing adjustments, in line with expectations for the ramp up of a new technology. The TCM circuit is expected to achieve throughput of approximately 11,000 tonnes per day by the third quarter of 2016, in line with its design capacity.

Production at Goldstrike in 2016 is expected to be 0.975-1.075 million ounces at all-in sustaining costs of $780-$850 per ounce. Higher all-in sustaining costs in 2016 reflect higher sustaining capital expenditures for tailings expansion, water management, and timing of underground equipment replacements.

In Peru, Lagunas Norte contributed 560,000 ounces of gold at all-in sustaining costs of $509 per ounce in 2015. All-in sustaining costs were lower than expected, primarily driven by lower sustaining capital spending, fuel and labor cost savings, and a decrease in royalty expenses.

Production in 2016 is expected to be 410,000-450,000 ounces at all-in sustaining costs of $570-$640 per ounce. Lower production and higher costs primarily reflect the transition to sulfide ore with lower recovery rates.

The Veladero mine in Argentina performed in line with expectations in 2015, producing 602,000 ounces of gold at all-in sustaining costs of $946 per ounce. The mine is expected to produce 630,000-690,000 ounces in 2016 at lower all-in sustaining costs of $830-$900 per ounce, driven by higher production and sales volumes, and depreciation of the Argentina Peso. Increased production in 2016 reflects mining of higher grades and improved equipment availability, as well as an improved inventory draw-down relative to 2015, through better operational management of the leach pad.

The mine is also expected to benefit from the government of Argentina's decision to lift restrictions on imports, and from the elimination of a five percent export duty, both announced in late 2015.

At the Turquoise Ridge mine in Nevada, the mine exceeded production and cost expectations in 2015, contributing 217,000 ounces of gold (75 percent basis) at all-in sustaining costs of $742 per ounce. The mine benefited from increased productivity and throughput, driven by improved equipment availability, and a change in mining method. Production in 2016 is expected to be 200,000-220,000 ounces at all-in sustaining costs of $770-$850 per ounce. All-in sustaining costs in 2016 are expected to be higher than 2015 as a result of higher sustaining capital related to water treatment, and timing of equipment replacement.

Productivity improvements are expected to continue in 2016, following the mine's transition to mechanized top cut mining, and the introduction of more standardized equipment, allowing for greater mining flexibility with higher reliability.

Porgera mine in Papua New Guinea contributed 436,000 ounces of gold in 2015 at all-in sustaining costs of $1,018 per ounce, reflecting Barrick's reduced interest of 47.5 percent following the sale of 50 percent of Barrick (Niugini) Ltd. to Zijin Mining Group Ltd. In 2016, Porgera is expected to contribute 230,000-260,000 ounces (Barrick's 47.5 percent share) at all-in sustaining costs of $990-$1,080 per ounce.

Barrick's other mines - consisting of Bald Mountain, Round Mountain, Ruby Hill, Golden Sunlight, Hemlo, Cowal, and KCGM - contributed 1.16 million ounces of gold at average all-in sustaining costs of $931 per ounce in 2015. Barrick divested the Cowal mine in 2015 and completed the sale of Bald Mountain and Round Mountain in January 2016. The sale of these assets has had a negligible net impact on the overall all-in sustaining costs and free cash flow generation of the company. Production from our remaining portfolio of other mines (Golden Sunlight, Hemlo, and KCGM) in 2016 is expected to be 580,000-630,000 ounces of gold at average all-in sustaining costs of $740-$780 per ounce. Barrick's 63.9 percent share of production from Acacia in 2015 was 468,000 ounces of gold at all-in sustaining costs of $1,112 per ounce. In 2016, Acacia is expected to contribute 480,000-500,000 ounces of gold to Barrick at all-in sustaining costs of $950-$980 per ounce. Expenditures at the Pascua-Lama project in Chile and Argentina are expected to be $80-$100 million in 2016, compared to $188 million in 2015. Lower spending reflects the implementation of a temporary suspension plan approved by Chilean and Argentine regulators in late 2015. Our focus in 2016 will remain on further reducing holding costs at the project in line with the temporary suspension plan, while advancing an optimized project plan. Implementation of the temporary suspension plan could require adjustments resulting from regulatory and legal actions and weather conditions, which could increase costs associated with the plan.

The Cortez mine in Nevada produced 999,000 ounces of gold at all-in sustaining costs of $603 per ounce in 2015, exceeding expectations as a result of improved underground productivity, higher grades from the open pit, and higher recoveries.

Production in 2016 is expected to be 0.900-1.000 million ounces at all-in sustaining costs of $640-$710 per ounce. This includes approximately 250,000 ounces from refractory ore which will be treated at Goldstrike. Higher costs in 2016 reflect higher sustaining capital expenditures related to water management projects, and timing of open pit haul truck maintenance.

Barrick's 60 percent share of production from the Pueblo Viejo mine for the year was 572,000 ounces of gold at all-in sustaining costs of $597 per ounce. Production in the fourth quarter was lower than planned following the failure of two oxygen plant motors in November, which impacted autoclave throughput. Full production capacity was restored in late January, with one repaired motor back in operation, supported by portable compressors. The second motor was reinstalled in February.

Barrick's share of production in 2016 is forecast to be 600,000-650,000 ounces at all-in sustaining costs of $570-$620 per ounce. The mine completed accelerated autoclave maintenance activities in December to mitigate the impact of the unscheduled downtime, and is treating higher-grade ore in the first quarter which was not processed in December.

In 2015, Barrick produced 6.12 million ounces of gold, in line with the company's revised outlook for the year. Proven and probable gold reserves were 91.9 million ounces as of December 31, 2015. In addition, Barrick has reported an initial inferred resource of 5.5 million ounces at our Alturas discovery in Chile.