The International Cyanide Management Institute (ICMI) has approved a request from Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick) for a second extension to its deadline for the performance of a certification audit of the Buzwagi Gold Mine (Buzwagi) in Tanzania. The audit must now be completed by February 28, 2014.
Barrick designated Buzwagi for certification under the International Cyanide Management Code (Cyanide Code) on July 27, 2009, and under the requirements of the program, the mine was to be audited for certification no later than July 26, 2012. However, prior to the deadline, Barrick requested that ICMI extend the deadline for six months to allow Buzwagi to upgrade its tailings treatment system to meet Cyanide Code requirements; ICMI’s Board of Directors extended the deadline to February 27, 2013.
Buzwagi made the necessary improvements in time to meet its new audit deadline, but while its upgraded treatment system was capable of reducing the concentration of cyanide in the tailings discharged to its impoundment to the required level, there was insufficient time to treat all the water that was already stored in the impoundment to this level. Therefore, Barrick requested an additional six month extension to allow Buzwagi sufficient time to treat all the solution, which ICMI’s Board of Directors has granted and is announcing today.
The Cyanide Code is a voluntary industry program for companies involved in the production of gold using cyanide and companies producing and transporting this cyanide. It was developed under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme by a multi-stakeholder Steering Committee. The Cyanide Code is intended to complement an operation’s existing obligation to comply with the applicable laws and regulations of the political jurisdictions in which the operation is located.
ICMI has been established to administer the Cyanide Code, promote its adoption, evaluate its implementation, and manage the certification process. A detailed list of the operations covered by signatory companies’ applications, along with the full text of the Cyanide Code and its implementing and administrative documents, are available at www.cyanidecode.org.
Date:
Thursday, October 24, 2013