Cobalt contamination nets Barrick Gold CAN$114,000 fine

Miner found liable for multiple events.

The fine relates to the discharge of effluent from a biological treatment operation from its decommissioned Nickel Plate gold mine to Hedley Creek (Twenty Mile Creek) in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada.

Multiple releases occurred between September 2021 and October 2023, where the effluent reaching the water exceeded B.C. Ministry of Environment guidelines.

The Barrick site has been in active care and maintenance since 1996, and the company says it has been working to lower the amount of cobalt in the mine tailings but is hampered because the type of cobalt generated at the site is a complex compound rather than free cobalt.

Barrick also argues that this makes the cobalt less of an environmental hazard, stating the government position was too stringent and ‘out-of-date’.

But the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy notes Barrick has not updated work on cobalt reduction since 2019 and has not applied to have the limit increased.

Read the full Penalty Assessment form.