measures come as the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to battle a major Ebola outbreak. Government figures reported more than 11,000 infections and over 5,000 deaths, making the current outbreak the second-largest recorded globally.
The outbreak has placed significant pressure on the country’s healthcare infrastructure, with challenges including limited medical resources, insecurity, difficulties in contact tracing and attacks on healthcare workers.
Although the outbreak has affected artisanal mining activities, no Ebola cases have been reported at industrial mining operations, according to Reuters.
Kibali Mine Remains Strategically Important
The Kibali gold mine, located in Haut-Uele province in northeastern DR Congo, is among Africa’s largest gold-producing operations.
The mine is jointly owned by Barrick Mining and AngloGold Ashanti, which each hold a 45% stake, while the Congolese state-owned mining company SOKIMO owns the remaining 10%.
The temporary furloughs highlight how public health emergencies can affect major industrial operations, particularly in regions where mining activities depend on a large workforce and movement between surrounding communities.
As Ebola containment efforts continue, the immediate priority for Barrick will be to protect employees, contractors and surrounding communities while maintaining the safety of its mining operations.