Stories

of Value

A place with a FUTURE is a place of value

Breaking Paradigms: Women
in the Dominican Mining Industry

Every day more and more women are joining and growing in the mining sector, challenging stereotypes, and old social gaps. At Barrick Pueblo Viejo, we are committed to empowering Dominican women by offering them the opportunity to occupy jobs that are typically performed by men. Currently, women represent 16% of Pueblo Viejo’s workforce, the highest percentage of women in the history of mining in Latin America.

One of the highest percentage of women in the history of mining in all Latin America!

In 2010, Soraya Madera from the heart city, Santiago, joined Barrick as a technical assistant in the training area, rotating through various departments of the technical area, performing functions such as long-term planning and short-term planning manager. Today, thanks to her effort and dedication, Madera is Chief of Engineering at Barrick Pueblo Viejo, further evidence that there are opportunities for all Dominicans.

Auridis Severino, a native of Cotuí, is a living example that there are duties that can be performed regardless of gender. Today, thanks to her dedication and performance, she is an Assay Laboratory Technician, a position historically occupied by men. Her function is to determine the gold composition of the sample by fire assay method. Auridis has made it clear: “it is time to overcome the paradigms that have been created over time”.

“Thanks to Barrick Pueblo Viejo I’ve been able to show my technical skills,” says Anny Hernández, heavy equipment operator, who never thought she could challenge society’s taboos and become one of the first women in her community to drive Barrick’s giant, impressive trucks.

Daridalia Batista was initially judged by her family members for choosing to be part of Barrick’s Metal, Mechanical and Welding team, clearly a man’s job. Today, she proudly and courageously performs her role because she believes that the future of tomorrow lies in everyone’s hands.

Know their stories

WE ARE COMMITTED TO HIRING LOCAL TALENT

Sánchez Ramírez is a province of great wealth, not only in mining, but also in agriculture and ecotourism. In the last fifteen years, this community in the Cibao region has increased its economic growth, thanks to the largest foreign investment in the history of the Dominican Republic: Barrick Pueblo Viejo.

Since our arrival, Barrick has committed to hiring local suppliers and contractors, which translates into more than USD$346 million in small, medium-size, and large-scale suppliers that are part of its day-to-day operations. In addition, it has employed more than 2,300 people, 97% of whom are Dominican talent.

Thanks to all these efforts, this town went from being one of the poorest in the country to occupying the 29th position of the provinces with the lowest rates of unemployment and poverty. In addiction, it is the second with the best health index in the whole country.

We are partners, we are part of you.

Our work with providers is to guide and mentor them, so that they can organize their administrative processes and thus offer services with high-quality standards.

Confecciones y Lavandería Herlin, supports us by manufacturing the shirts of hundreds of local contractors who work at Barrick daily. We’ve been part of this story of value, guiding them through the process of consulting and formalization to continue generating more jobs at the local level.

Ferretería Carolina, a company that’s grown along with Barrick. This company generates hundreds of jobs for the community and surrounding areas and provides most of the hardware supplies used by Barrick and its contractors in day-to-day operations.

María Yobón Hostal, an example of self-improvement and social development. Thanks to the courses imparted at INFOTEP, an educational partner of Barrick, its owner Blandally Carrasco, learned basic principles of culinary arts, managing to refine her passion and services, positioning her as one of the most recognized businesses in the area.

Pueblo Viejo is located in the Dominican Republic, approximately 100 kilometers northwest of the capital city of Santo Domingo, and is operated by the Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation, a joint venture between Barrick (60%) and Newmont (40%). Development of the Pueblo Viejo project began in 2009, with the first production in 2012. The company's workforce is 97% Dominican. At the beginning of this year, the conversion to natural gas of Quisqueya 1, the power plant that supplies the mine, was successfully commissioned. This will reduce greenhouse gases by 30% and nitrogen oxide by 85%, further reducing Pueblo Viejo's impact on the environment. An agro-industrial project is also planned as an additional benefit for local communities.