Barrick Reduces Workforce at Kibali Gold Mine Following Ebola Deaths in DRC
Barrick Furloughs Kibali Gold Mine Workers as Ebola Concerns Rise in DR Congo
Barrick Mining has temporarily furloughed some employees and subcontractors at its Kibali gold mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a precautionary measure following the confirmation of two Ebola-related deaths in a nearby community.
According to an internal company memorandum obtained by Reuters, the decision is intended to minimise potential exposure to the virus while authorities investigate possible links between the reported cases and the mine’s workforce.
The memorandum, dated November 12 and signed by Kibali Acting General Manager Jean Marc Badibanga, indicated that the deaths had been confirmed by the DRC’s National Institute of Biomedical Research.
Barrick is working to establish whether any employees or contractors may have been exposed to the virus.
Barrick Introduces Precautionary Workforce Measures
Under the temporary arrangement, employees and subcontractors whose presence is not essential to mine operations will be placed on furlough and notified individually.
The company has not disclosed how many workers will be affected or how long the measures will remain in place.
Employees experiencing symptoms of illness have been instructed to remain at home and immediately contact the company’s medical personnel for assessment.
The latest measures follow additional Ebola prevention protocols introduced by Barrick in May 2026 at Kibali, which is in the DRC’s Haut-Uele province.
There have been no confirmed Ebola cases at industrial mining operations, and Barrick has not announced any production suspension at Kibali.
Ebola Outbreak Raises Concerns for Mining Operations
The precautionary measures come amid a major Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which has recorded more than 11,000 infections and 5,000 deaths, according to government figures cited by Reuters.
The outbreak has created significant public health challenges, particularly in affected communities where healthcare access, disease surveillance and containment efforts remain critical.
Although industrial mining operations have not reported confirmed cases, the outbreak has affected artisanal mining activities, highlighting the potential risks to mining communities and regional economic activity.
Kibali is one of Africa’s largest gold mines and is jointly owned by Barrick Mining (45%), AngloGold Ashanti (45%) and the Congolese state-owned mining company SOKIMO (10%).
The mine remains a major contributor to the DRC’s gold industry, making workforce safety and operational continuity important priorities.
Barrick had not issued a public response to Reuters’ request for comment at the time of the original report.
The situation underscores the importance of disease prevention, workforce protection and emergency preparedness in maintaining safe mining operations during public health emergencies.
