La mina Pueblo Viejo, operada por Barrick Gold Corporation, pagó US$108 millones de dólares (aproximadamente RD$6,299 millones de pesos) en impuestos y regalías este mes al Gobierno dominicano. Esto incluye el pago de anticipo del impuesto sobre la renta, participación sobre las utilidades netas y las regalías, incluyendo un pago de anticipo de la regalía para el año 2021, estimado en US$47 millones de dólares (aproximadamente RD$2,742 millones de pesos).
Este es el cuarto pago de impuestos que realiza la mina en lo que va de año y eleva su contribución al Gobierno dominicano para 2020 a US$385 millones de dólares (aproximadamente RD$21,466 millones de pesos). Pueblo Viejo también acordó adelantar el pago de regalías para los años 2022 y 2023, estimado en US$95 millones de dólares (aproximadamente RD$5,543 millones de pesos), para apoyar la misión del gobierno de combatir la crisis de salud y económica causada por Covid-19. Pueblo Viejo no realizará descuento ni cobrará intereses sobre los pagos anticipados de regalías.
Los impuestos para 2020 han sido significativamente superiores a los US$195 millones de dólares (aproximadamente RD$9,971 millones de pesos) pagados en 2019 debido al impacto del aumento en el precio del oro. El régimen tributario establecido en el Contrato Especial de Arrendamiento de Derechos Mineros (CEAM) con el Estado Dominicano está estructurado de tal manera que, si aumentan los ingresos brutos y las ventas, la base imponible también aumenta resultando en un mayor pago de impuestos.
Pueblo Viejo también ha pagado US$20 millones de dólares (aproximadamente RD$1,109 millones de pesos) en impuestos indirectos que resultan principalmente de la retención de impuestos por salarios, beneficios a empleados y pagos a proveedores extranjeros.
Además de los impuestos, Pueblo Viejo ha contribuido a la economía dominicana a través de su apoyo a la campaña contra el Covid-19, las compras locales y el empleo local. Ha asignado $1 millón (aproximadamente RD$ 58 millones) para mitigar el impacto de Covid-19 en el país y en las comunidades alrededor de la mina. Esto incluye la donación de pruebas, pulsioxímetros, mascarillas, batas, oxígeno, gel antibacterial, kits de alimentos no perecederos y 83 mil galones de alcohol para higienización.
De 2013 a 2019, Pueblo Viejo ha gastado más de US$2 mil millones de dólares (aproximadamente RD$96,508 millones de pesos) en proveedores y contratistas locales. Emplea a 2,247 personas, de las cuales el 98% son dominicanos, y ha sido reconocida con el Sello Igualando RD, Nivel Oro y certificada bajo la NORDOM 775 por mantener buenas prácticas laborales y una cultura de igualdad de género en el lugar de trabajo.
«Barrick Pueblo Viejo está comprometida con la minería responsable y contribuir con el desarrollo de la República Dominicana. Nuestros aportes no han sido sólo económicos, sino que también han incluido la mayor limpieza ambiental en el país, remediando el daño ambiental dejado por operaciones anteriores. Antes de la llegada de Barrick, el agua que fluía desde la mina de Pueblo Viejo hacia el río Margajita estaba muy impactada y no podía mantener vida acuática. Desde que tomamos control de la mina, Barrick emprendió una amplia remediación ambiental, dentro y alrededor de la mina, y la calidad del agua ahora cumple con los estándares regulatorios pudiendo sostener vida”, dijo Juana Barceló, presidenta de Pueblo Viejo.
La gestión del agua es uno de los aspectos clave del desempeño ambiental de Pueblo Viejo. Por esta razón, el agua que proviene del área operativa es tratada antes de su descarga, cumpliendo con las normas dominicanas. Una extensa red de más de 100 pozos de monitoreo y 90 estaciones de calidad de agua superficial asegura el cumplimiento de estos estándares. Los resultados se informan cada seis meses al Ministerio de Medio Ambiente. Además, desde el 2012 Pueblo Viejo ha estado invitando a las comunidades a participar en el monitoreo ambiental participativo trimestral, que incluye muestreo de agua.
Como parte del grupo Barrick, Pueblo Viejo apoya la Iniciativa de Transparencia de la Industria Extractiva (EITI) e implementa sus estándares en República Dominicana. Barrick divulga impuestos, regalías y otros pagos realizados a los gobiernos en su página web. En su informe anual de la Ley de Medida de Transparencia del Sector Extractivo (ESTMA), Barrick divulga públicamente los pagos a los gobiernos por cada país y nivel de proyecto.
Fuente: Barrick Gold[:en]The Pueblo Viejo mine, operated by Barrick Gold Corporation, paid $108 million in taxes and royalties this month to the Dominican government. This includes advance payment of income tax, net profit interest and royalties, including an advance payment of the royalty for the year 2021 estimated at $47 million.
This is the fourth tax payment the mine has made so far this year and brings its contribution to the Dominican government for 2020 to $385 million. Pueblo Viejo has also agreed to advance the royalty payment for the years 2022 and 2023, estimated at $95 million, to support the government mission to combat the health and economic crisis caused by Covid-19. Pueblo Viejo will not receive any discount or charge interest on the advance royalty payments.
Taxes for 2020 have been significantly higher than the $195 million paid in 2019 due to the impact of the increase in the price of gold. The tax regime set out in the Special Lease Agreement of Mining Rights with the government is structured in such a way that if gross income and sales increase, the tax base also increases resulting in a higher tax payment.
Pueblo Viejo has also paid $20 million in indirect taxes resulting mainly from withholding taxes for salaries, wages and payments to foreign suppliers.
In addition to taxes, Pueblo Viejo has contributed to the Dominican economy through its support for the campaign against Covid-19, local purchases and local employment. It has allocated $1 million to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 in the country and in the communities around the mine. This includes the donation of tests, pulsometers, masks, gowns, oxygen, antibacterial gel, non-perishable food kits and 83 thousand gallons of alcohol for sanitization.
From 2013 to 2019, Pueblo Viejo has spent more than $2 billion with local suppliers and contractors. It employs 2,247 people, of whom 98% are Dominicans, and has been awarded the Igualando RD Seal, Gold Level and been certified under NORDOM 775 for maintaining good employment practices and a culture of gender equality in the workplace.
«Barrick Pueblo Viejo is committed to responsible mining and contributing to the development of the Dominican Republic. Our contributions have not only been economic, but have also included the largest in-country environmental clean-up, remediating environmental damage left by previous operations at the mine. Prior to Barrick’s arrival, the water flowing from the Pueblo Viejo mine to the Margajita River was heavily impacted and unable to sustain aquatic life. Since we took over the asset from the previous operator, Barrick has undertaken extensive environmental remediation in and around the mine and the water quality now meets regulatory standards and sustains life,” says Juana Barceló, president of Pueblo Viejo.
Water management is one of the key aspects of Pueblo Viejo’s environmental performance. For this reason, the water that comes from the operational area is treated before discharge, in compliance with Dominican standards. An extensive network of more than 100 monitoring wells and 90 surface water quality stations ensures compliance with these standards. Results are reported every six months to the Ministry of Environment. In addition, since 2012 Pueblo Viejo has been inviting communities to participate in quarterly environmental monitoring, which includes water sampling.
As part of the Barrick group, Pueblo Viejo is a supporter of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) and implements its standards in the Dominican Republic. Barrick discloses taxes, royalties, and other payments made to governments on its website. In its annual Extractive Sector Transparency Measure Act (ESTMA) report, Barrick publicly discloses payments to governments on a country by country and project-level basis. For more information on this report, please visit Barrick’s website www.barrick.com.
About Pueblo Viejo
Pueblo Viejo is located in the Dominican Republic, approximately 100 kilometers northwest of the capital city of Santo Domingo, and is operated by the Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation — a joint venture between Barrick (60%) and Newmont (40%). Development of the Pueblo Viejo project started in 2009, with the first production in 2012. The company’s workforce is 98% Dominican. Earlier this year, the conversion of the mine’s Quisqueya 1 power plant to natural gas was successfully commissioned. This will reduce greenhouse gases by 30% and nitrogen oxide by 85%, further reducing Pueblo Viejo’s impact on the environment. An agribusiness project is also planned as an additional benefit for the local communities.
Corporate Income Tax and Net Profit Interest Paid by Pueblo Viejo (Cash Taxes Paid)
Royalties Paid by Pueblo Viejo
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
Certain information contained in this press release, including any information as to Barrick’s strategy or future financial or operating performance, constitutes “forward-looking statements”. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words “support”, “commit”, “aim”, “continue”, “contribute”, “provide”, “consider”, “will”, “challenge” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to funds to be provided to help mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 virus in the Dominican Republic and the communities near the Pueblo Viejo mine; ongoing environmental remediation and water management initiatives in the area around the mine; Barrick’s contributions to the social and economic development of the Dominican Republic; disclosure of payments to governments; proposed reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the Quisqueya 1 power plant; and the potential benefits of a proposed agribusiness project for local communities.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions; including material estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below that, while considered reasonable by Barrick as at the date of this press release in light of management’s experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, copper or certain other commodities (such as silver, diesel fuel, natural gas and electricity); changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, or regulations and/or changes in the administration of laws, policies, and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in the Dominican Republic; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation and exploration successes; increased costs, delays, suspensions and technical challenges associated with the construction of capital projects; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities, including geotechnical challenges and disruptions in the maintenance or provision of required infrastructure and information technology systems; non-renewal of key licenses by governmental authorities; risks associated with new diseases, epidemics and pandemics, including the effects and potential effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic; failure to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; lack of certainty with respect to foreign legal systems, corruption and other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; risks associated with illegal and artisanal mining; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; timing of receipt of, or failure to comply with, necessary permits and approvals; litigation and legal and administrative proceedings; damage to the Barrick’s reputation due to the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the Barrick’s handling of environmental matters or dealings with community groups, whether true or not; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties, or over access to water, power, and other required infrastructure; employee relations including loss of key employees; increased costs and physical risks, including extreme weather events and resource shortages, related to climate change; and availability and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development, and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, and gold bullion, copper cathode, or gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks).
Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements, and the risks that may affect Barrick’s ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
Barrick disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Source: www.barick.com[:]