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Thursday, 23rd November 2006 (3652 views)

Barrick Gold has received overwhelming local support for plans to mine an Andean gold deposit close to the Chile-Argentina border.

The company confirmed that it has received around 50,000 job applications for possible positions at the proposed Pascua-Lama operation, reports the Times.

Barrick is hoping to be involved in the first bi-national mining project in the world and is keen to stress that its operations will not have a negative impact on the surrounding environment or local communities.

In fact, Peter Munk, the chairman of Barrick Gold, believes locals are strongly in support of the project and welcome the creation of jobs as well as improvements in the immediate economy.

It had been alleged that the gold mining at the Pascua-Lama site would involve the breaking-up of national glaciers and ice fields. However, Barrick insists that 95 per cent of the ore body is not under the protected ice areas and the remaining five per cent will remain un-mined as it is forms a key part of the Chilean authorities' approval of the project.

Predictions suggest that the gold mining will help create around 5,500 jobs during the construction stage of the project, while 1,660 workers will be needed to oversee the day-to-day running of the mine.

A number of training activities have already been implemented to help ensure that local residents are being given the opportunities to acquire the relevant skills to work in the mining sector.

 

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