Barrick forges ahead with construction of second tailings dam in Sanchez Ramirez

[Dolores]

Journalists Edith Febles and Germán Marte interviewed Catholic priest Johnny Duran from the Monseñor Nouel Diocese who was injured during a protest against the forced eviction of residents as part of preparations to make way for a new tailings dam by Barrick Gold in the northcentral Sanchez Ramirez province.

The second tailings dam in the province seeks to extend the life of the Barrick Gold Pueblo Viejo operation. The company had sought to build the mining wastes dam in another province but met with strong opposition. Finally, the Ministry of Environment authorized the construction in the same Sanchez Ramirez province.

Father Johnny Durán explained during the interview he was mediating between eviction forces and the residents when the incident occurred in Tres Bocas, where residents have been protesting against their displacement.

“I was begging the police not to keep firing tear...

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[windeguy]

Just an example that big business really runs the world.

 

[Notengo]

Sustainable mining by building a toxic waste reservoir.. what chemicals are they using?

 

[windeguy]

Sustainable mining by building a toxic waste reservoir.. what chemicals are they using?

https://www.mining.com/barrick-cuts-cyanide-by-80-by-adding-glycine-leach-for-gold-recovery/

They probably just use the pure cyanide approach in the DR, but only the shadow knows.

 

[Manuel01]

Only the rice farmers in the DR contaminate the Environment a 100 x more than Barrick and all this without any supervision.
Btw. Barrick is offering once in a while free tours of all their sites incl. free lunch and pick up from various locations in the DR. If somebody really cares, you are free to see all this by yourself. I am not affiliated in any way with Barrick in any way, in case you might think so. I'm just tired of the baseless bashing of Big Companies.

 

[Big]

Only the rice farmers in the DR contaminate the Environment a 100 x more than Barrick and all this without any supervision.
Btw. Barrick is offering once in a while free tours of all their sites incl. free lunch and pick up from various locations in the DR. If somebody really cares, you are free to see all this by yourself. I am not affiliated in any way with Barrick in any way, in case you might think so. I'm just tired of the baseless bashing of Big Companies.

Exactly! The mine employs thousands and pays billions in taxes. The same segment that complains about no power and poor infrastructure yet do not want to pay hotel room tax. The money they pump into the D.R economy is massive.

 

[Tarheel]

Exactly! The mine employs thousands and pays billions in taxes. The same segment that complains about no power and poor infrastructure yet do not want to pay hotel room tax. The money they pump into the D.R economy is massive.

How massive and what does an average worker get paid?

 

[BermudaRum]

The proposed tailings dam would require the displacement of 850 families, a move the community argues has been carried out without providing adequate relocation options.

Barrick Gold says that the relocation project calls for RD$18 billion investment in the building of new communities for those that will be displaced.

$350,000 per family

 

[keepcoming]

Only the rice farmers in the DR contaminate the Environment a 100 x more than Barrick and all this without any supervision.
Btw. Barrick is offering once in a while free tours of all their sites incl. free lunch and pick up from various locations in the DR. If somebody really cares, you are free to see all this by yourself. I am not affiliated in any way with Barrick in any way, in case you might think so. I'm just tired of the baseless bashing of Big Companies.

You can also go to the town meetings to hear what the issues are that the locals are talking about. There were some being posted on FB. If anyone is interested, I can try and get the information.

 

[keepcoming]

Exactly! The mine employs thousands and pays billions in taxes. The same segment that complains about no power and poor infrastructure yet do not want to pay hotel room tax. The money they pump into the D.R economy is massive.

I do not know about "billions", but they do pay a lot.

 

[Ecoman1949]

Sustainable mining by building a toxic waste reservoir.. what chemicals are they using?

Sodium cyanide is the chemical used to release the gold from the ore. Bad enough by itself but it eventually biodegrades. The big problem in the effluent and tailings pond collection area is the naturally occurring heavy metals released as a result of the gold extraction process. Cadmium being one of the worst because it is a neurotoxin, as is lead which is also released. The list of heavy metals released is numerous. They persist and don’t biodegrade.

I’ve saved the best for last. Mercury is also one of the worst metals released and doesn’t break down in the tailing effluent and ponds. Mercury is a severe neurotoxin. It’s a liquid heavy metal which is part of the reason it is so persistent and easily taken up by fish and birds where it builds up in their bodies. Any plants fed from watercourses contaminated by the tailings pond will also uptake the heavy metals.

The tailing ponds are a permanent legacy that require a long term commitment and lots of money to manage. A lot of companies have folded and walked away from their environmental impacts in developed and developing nations. Anything Barrick does is not going away. They are better at collecting and containing the toxic effluent because of public pressure but, when the mine has petered out, they will walk away and leave the government a pittance for environmental management. A standard operating procedure for most mining companies.

 

[keepcoming]

Some years ago, the employees were getting sick, nausea, vomiting, etc... The local hospital in Cotui could not keep up with the need for IV's. My SIL donated some from her clinic in SFM. I remember all the dead fish in Presa Hatillo. The even stopped the "ferry" boat that used to take people around the Presa because of it. It has since returned though.

 

[Big]

How massive and what does an average worker get paid?

What is an average worker? They have engineers and geologists with advanced degrees. They have skilled equipment operators and support staff.

 

[Big]

Sodium cyanide is the chemical used to release the gold from the ore. Bad enough by itself but it eventually biodegrades. The big problem in the effluent and tailings pond collection area is the naturally occurring heavy metals released as a result of the gold extraction process. Cadmium being one of the worst because it is a neurotoxin, as is lead which is also released. The list of heavy metals released is numerous. They persist and don’t biodegrade.

I’ve saved the best for last. Mercury is also one of the worst metals released and doesn’t break down in the tailing effluent and ponds. Mercury is a severe neurotoxin. It’s a liquid heavy metal which is part of the reason it is so persistent and easily taken up by fish and birds where it builds up in their bodies. Any plants fed from watercourses contaminated by the tailings pond will also uptake the heavy metals.

The tailing ponds are a permanent legacy that require a long term commitment and lots of money to manage. A lot of companies have folded and walked away from their environmental impacts in developed and developing nations. Anything Barrick does is not going away. They are better at collecting and containing the toxic effluent because of public pressure but, when the mine has petered out, they will walk away and leave the government a pittance for environmental management. A standard operating procedure for most mining companies.

Here we go! Do you drive a car, eat food, wear cloths. All of these products requiring large industrial processing. The Pueblo Viejo mine has 40 plus years of reserves, it is a cash cow, especially now that the price of gold is on fire. Of course, no one ever complains about the massive pollution caused by cruise ships, that is because they are big pretty monoliths that serve umbrella drinks.

 

[Ecoman1949]

Here we go! Do you drive a car, eat food, wear cloths. All of these products requiring large industrial processing. The Pueblo Viejo mine has 40 plus years of reserves, it is a cash cow, especially now that the price of gold is on fire. Of course, no one ever complains about the massive pollution caused by cruise ships, that is because they are big pretty monoliths that serve umbrella drinks.

You’re comparing apples to oranges. Open pit and underground mining, not just gold mining has detrimental, long lasting, many times permanent impacts on the landscape. There are many abandoned former mine sites in Canada and the USA where environmental problems still persist today.

I drive a car, eat food, and wear clothes. None of these activities require gold mining. Cruise ships aren’t the pollution sources they used to be. The IMO, USCG, CCG, have much more stringent rules in place and that’s backed up by more frequent inspections.

Gold, a rare metal as you well know, is mined primarily for its inherent value, and stored by many countries to back up the value of their currency. Same for platinum and silver. In places where it’s mined and people are employed, it affects their standard of living. Those that can afford it as an investment against inflation are affected by it. Most people buy gold for decorative purposes , rings, bracelets, necklaces, and aren’t affected by it. Gold is also used in the semiconductor industry. Gold being a good conductor of electricity although silver is the best and used the most.

 

[Big]

You’re comparing apples to oranges. Open pit and underground mining, not just gold mining has detrimental, long lasting, many times permanent impacts on the landscape. There are many abandoned former mine sites in Canada and the USA where environmental problems still persist today.

I drive a car, eat food, and wear clothes. None of these activities require gold mining. Cruise ships aren’t the pollution sources they used to be. The IMO, USCG, CCG, have much more stringent rules in place and that’s backed up by more frequent inspections.

Gold, a rare metal as you well know, is mined primarily for its inherent value, and stored by many countries to back up the value of their currency. Same for platinum and silver. In places where it’s mined and people are employed, it affects their standard of living. Those that can afford it as an investment against inflation are affected by it. Most people buy gold for decorative purposes , rings, bracelets, necklaces, and aren’t affected by it. Gold is also used in the semiconductor industry. Gold being a good conductor of electricity although silver is the best and used the most.

Yea,Sure. Gold, Silver, copper and zinc. at Pueblo Viejo. Mining is ruining the world. Cruise ships and electric vehicles are saving the planet

 

[Tarheel]

What is an average worker? They have engineers and geologists with advanced degrees. They have skilled equipment operators and support staff.

Please cite a number for the massive taxes they pay the government. Also what does a worker without a fancy title get paid? If you don't know, say so.

 

[bob saunders]

Please cite a number for the massive taxes they pay the government. Also what does a worker without a fancy title get paid? If you don't know, say so.

https://www.barrick.com/English/new...jo-tax-and-royal-payment-in-2020/default.aspx approximately 2400 employees

 

[keepcoming]

Please cite a number for the massive taxes they pay the government. Also what does a worker without a fancy title get paid? If you don't know, say so.

A regular worker (starting) around 30K (pesos) monthly plus transportation and food. There is information out there, but it is supplied by Barrick for the most part. So, what I am quoting comes from what workers have said. For taxes, unless the information comes directly from the government then I am not confident in the numbers out there.

 

[lifeisgreat]

A bit of history..

Pueblo Viejo Mining Conflict in Dominican Republic

Large-scale mining activities by the Canadian Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation (PVDC) have induced strong protests amongst local and national stakeholders in the Dominican Republic. Protests have been catalyzed by the large scope of the project and due to potential impacts upon health, the...

climate-diplomacy.org