Barrick Gold reaches $2 million in response to Covid-19 | DRC
In response to the call by the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, to support the response to the Covid-19 in the DRC, Kibali Gold Mines and its operator Barrick Gold have brought a batch of equipment and equipment for the response to the Coronavirus pandemic in the city provinces of Kinshasa.
On Saturday, 11 July, The resident representative of Barrick in the DRC and general manager of Kibali Gold Mines, Cyril Mutombo, presented the governor of the Kinshasa provincial city, Gentiny Ngobila, with these equipments and implements consisting of: “57,000 pairs of gloves; 113,000 masks; 300 combinations for caregivers; 400 beds with mattresses; 77 pieces of 5L bleach; 220 pieces of liquid soap; 120 L of disinfectants; 280 garbage bags; 120 plastic buckets.”
At the ceremony to present the donation at Kinshasa City Hall, Cyril Mutombo said: “Our assistance today is part of the Government’s support in its efforts to combat and contain the impact of the COVID-19 virus a little more effectively. In view of the above, Mr Governor, we have just handed over this batch of equipment and equipment on behalf of the Barrick Directorate.”
Despite pledging USD 1.5 million in aid, Barrick Gold has so far, according to its resident representative, reached about $2 million in aid in response to the DRC.
“To date, we are proud to say that we have gone far beyond this initial commitment and have spent about $2 million in light of the challenges that make COVID continue,” said Cyril Mutombo.
For his part, Gentiny Ngobila thanked Barrick’s delegation for, he said, “this high-quality philanthropic work for the benefit of the people of Kines.”
“This remarkable contribution will help to truly boost the efforts of the city of Kinshasa to support its population in observing barrier gestures, inescapably effective methods of combating pandémie….Au behalf of the Kinshasa Provincial Executive and my own, I thank Barrick Gold with all my heart through its resident director and members of its delegation. , here, for this high-quality philanthropic work for the benefit of the people of Kines,” said Gentiny Ngobila, whose Kinshasa province currently has 6,978 confirmed cases of coronavirus out of the 7971 worldwide.
In addition to its main activity, the industrial extraction of gold, Kibali Gold Mines and its operator Barrick, in their corporate philosophy, favour the human dimension.
“This philosophy of man at the centre of everything we do is the reason why, every time the DRC has been affected by a crisis, we have committed ourselves to it – we cite the case of the last Ebola outbreak that has hit the northeastern part of the DRC since August 2018; we have worked with provincial and territorial governments to combat this epidemic alongside our communities and are proud of the positive results,” said Barrick’s Resident Representative.
“The contribution by Kibali Gold Mines and its operator Barrick Gold in their response against the covid-19 in Kinshasa includes 57,000 pairs of gloves; 113,000 masks; 300 combinations for caregivers; 400 beds with mattresses; 77 pieces of 5L bleach; 220 pieces of liquid soap; 120 L of disinfectants; 280 garbage bags; 120 plastic buckets.
Since 2009, Kibali Gold Mines has been operating in the DRC, particularly in haut-Uélé province since 2009. In this mining company, Barrick Gold and Anglo Gold Corporation each have 45% of the shares against 10% for SOKIMO, a company that is part of the state’s portfolio.
