Barrick fined for releasing excessive cobalt into British Columbia river
me-metals: Barrick Gold (NYSE: GOLD) (TSX: ABX) has been hit with a C$114,750 (approximately $79,800) fine for its repeated, excessive discharge of toxic materials from the now-decommissioned Nickel Plate gold mine located 3 km away from Hedley, BC.
According to me-metals cited from mining.com, The decision follows an inspection by provincial inspectors who found that the former underground and open pit mine had been releasing mine waste containing high concentrations of cobalt into Hedley Creek, which flows into the Similkameen River. This occurred on 17 separate occasions between 2021 and 2023, the inspectors found.
Cobalt — while essential to human and animal life — can be harmful and even fatal when consumed in high concentrations. It is especially detrimental to invertebrate aquatic species, a key food source for salmonids.
In their report, the inspectors found that Nickel Plate tailings had average cobalt levels that were 1,155% above regulatory limits, and at one point, surged to 7,011% above the mine’s permit limit.
The exceedances, according to Jason Bourgeois, director of the BC Environmental Management Act, reached such a significant magnitude that “they are considered as the most serious type of non-compliances” and “undermine the basic integrity of the overarching regulatory regime.”
As such, Bourgeois said the C$114,750 fine for all 17 incidents cited by BC inspectors “is necessary to deter Barrick’s future non-compliance with the cobalt limit.”
In explaining the penalty decision, the director said that exposing aquatic invertebrates to such high levels of cobalt could have a long-lasting impact on animal growth and reproduction.
Past incidents
Barrick, on its part, has been looking for ways to reduce the amount of cobalt in its mine tailing for years but has yet to find a solution. In 2022, it was given a C$35,000 fine for a dozen of similar infractions. At the time, the company claimed it was in the process of installing a new water treatment system at Nickel Plate.
The lack of improvements despite millions spent on studies, according to Barrick, is that the type of cobalt generated at the Nickel Plate mine is a complex compound, which it says is much more difficult to filter out than “free cobalt.” The company, though, had argued that this cobalt content is less toxic than free cobalt, and represents less of an environmental hazard.
The Toronto-headquartered miner also complained that BC’s regulatory limit for cobalt is “unreasonably low” and “is difficult to achieve.” The environmental ministry, however, noted that the company has had the opportunity to apply for a higher limit under its permit, but instead continued to breach the limit.
Barrick has been in charge of treating effluent from the Nickel Plate mine site since placing it on care and maintenance in 1996, nine years after it first opened.
source: mining.com
Related News
Top News
Thirteen Hours ago
Two last month
Gold rebounds as investors take stock of outlook for US, tariffs
Citigroup predicts LME copper price to hit $10,000 before US tariffs
Biotech company BPH plans to extract critical minerals, gold from seaweed
Gold price makes history with $3,000 milestone
US, Congo in ‘exploratory talks’ over minerals deal: FT
Hochschild posts best results in 13 years, restores dividend
US-backed TechMet eyes Ukraine lithium asset
Bolivia’s lithium deals with China, Russia in limbo
Indonesia mulls tax hikes on miners due to budgetary pressures
Gold price to reach $4,000 on central bank demand, says DoubleLine’s Gundlach
Barrick fined for releasing excessive cobalt into British Columbia river
Panama asks First Quantum to end legal proceedings
Bolivia’s lithium deals with China, Russia in limbo
In the presence of the CEO of Mobarakeh Steel Group;
A ceremony was held to honor and introduce the CEO of Hormozgan Steel Company.
CEO of Mobarakeh Steel Group visiting Opal Parsian Sangan:
Mobarakeh Steel's serious investment in the concentrate field of the Sangan region
Saeed Zarandi, CEO of Mobarakeh Steel Group, visited Sangan Steel:
Supporting projects and looking ahead at Sangan Steel Company
First Quantum’s Cobre Panama mine ready to suspend arbitration
Gold price makes history with $3,000 milestone
Citigroup predicts LME copper price to hit $10,000 before US tariffs
Gold price to reach $4,000 on central bank demand, says DoubleLine’s Gundlach
Barrick fined for releasing excessive cobalt into British Columbia river
Panama asks First Quantum to end legal proceedings
Bolivia’s lithium deals with China, Russia in limbo
A ceremony was held to honor and introduce the CEO of Hormozgan Steel Company.
Supporting projects and looking ahead at Sangan Steel Company
First Quantum’s Cobre Panama mine ready to suspend arbitration
Gold price makes history with $3,000 milestone
Citigroup predicts LME copper price to hit $10,000 before US tariffs