Barrick Reports 1.94 Million Ounces Of Gold Production In Q2 

TORONTO - Barrick Gold Corporation, President and CEO Aaron Regent said, "We had another good quarter with solid operational and financial results. Our operating costs were stable and when combined with the higher realized gold price led to significant margin expansion, record quarterly earnings and strong cash flow generation. We continued to advance our project pipeline in line with our plans. In particular, Cortez Hills has been completed and is performing exceptionally well and the construction of Pueblo Viejo and Pascua-Lama continue to move forward. The outlook for the price of gold remains very positive and Barrick will continue to be a major beneficiary."

Q2 production of 1.94 million ounces at total cash costs of $457 per ounce or net cash costs of $358 per ounce exceeded plan. The Company continues to expect 2010 production to increase to 7.6-8.0 million ounces of gold at lower total cash costs of $425-$455 per ounce or net cash costs of $345-$375 per ounce. Total cash costs are expected to trend toward the higher end of the range primarily due to increased royalties as gold prices have traded higher(6) and as a result of a change in the production mix.

The North America region delivered another quarter of results which were ahead of plan, producing 0.76 million ounces at total cash costs of $506 per ounce in Q2 on continued strong performances from Cortez and Goldstrike. With Cortez expected to exceed its original guidance, full year production for the region is now anticipated to increase to 3.125-3.175 million ounces of gold and total cash costs are anticipated to be at the higher end of the range of $450-$475 per ounce due to increased royalties and production taxes.

The Cortez property continued to exceed plan, producing 0.29 million ounces at total cash costs of $308 per ounce on higher than expected grades from the Cortez Hills open pit and underground. Cortez Hills continues to operate under the terms of the tailored injunction issued by the District Court while the Bureau of Land Management completes a Supplementary Environmental Impact Study (SEIS) on three aspects identified by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Company continues to expect completion of the SEIS and a Record of Decision to be issued by year-end.

The Goldstrike operation also performed ahead of plan, producing 0.30 million ounces at total cash costs of $566 per ounce in Q2 primarily due to better than expected grades from the open pit and higher roaster throughput. As planned, Goldstrike is expected to access higher grade material in the second half of the year.

The South American business unit produced 0.57 million ounces at total cash costs of $233 per ounce in Q2. Lagunas Norte exceeded plan, producing 0.25 million ounces at total cash costs of $163 per ounce due to changes in the mine plan. As a result, production at Lagunas Norte is expected to be lower in the second half of the year, before increasing again in early 2011. The Veladero mine produced 0.26 million ounces at total cash costs of $279 per ounce and is expected to produce over 1.0 million ounces in 2010. Full year production for the South America region is now expected to decrease to 2.05-2.10 million ounces of gold at total cash costs of $240-$270 per ounce, primarily as a result of the changes in the mine plan at Lagunas Norte.

The Australia Pacific business unit contributed production of 0.48 million ounces at total cash costs of $622 per ounce in Q2. The Porgera mine produced 0.12 million ounces at total cash costs of $617 per ounce. The region remains on track with its original production guidance of 1.85-2.00 million ounces of gold at total cash costs of $600-$625 per ounce.

Attributable production from African Barrick Gold plc in Q2 was 0.13 million ounces at total cash costs of $609 per ounce. Barrick's share of full year production is now expected to decrease to 0.60-0.64 million ounces at higher total cash costs of $560-$600 per ounce as the Buzwagi mine continues to work through lower grade transition ore.

Q2 copper production was 102 million pounds at total cash costs of $1.12 per pound and the Company remains on track with its full year copper production guidance of 340-365 million pounds at total cash costs of $1.10-$1.20 per pound.

The Pueblo Viejo project in the Dominican Republic is advancing in line with its $3.0 billion capital budget (100% basis) and initial production continues to be anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2011. At the end of the second quarter, overall construction was more than 25% complete, approximately 70% of the capital had been committed and engineering and procurement by major EPCM contractors was about 95% complete.

At the Pascua-Lama project on the border of Chile and Argentina, detailed engineering and procurement is nearing completion and the project is on track to enter production in the first quarter of 2013. Major items that have been purchased or are subject to firm pricing include the mining equipment fleet, autogenous grinding (AG) and ball mills, the overland conveyor, and the primary and pebble crushers. The project remains in line with its pre-production capital budget of $2.8-$3.0 billion with over one-third of the capital committed. In Chile, the Barriales camp is essentially complete and substantial progress has been made on the Los Amarillos camp in Argentina. Construction of the Punta Colorada road is progressing well and earthworks have commenced with about 3.0 million tons moved to date. Average annual gold production is expected to be 750,000-800,000 ounces in the first full five years of operation at total cash costs of $20-$50 per ounce assuming a silver price of $12 per ounce. For every $1 per ounce increase in the silver price, total cash costs are expected to decrease by about $35 per ounce over this period.

At the Cerro Casale project in Chile, the review of any additional permitting requirements before considering a construction decision is progressing. Engineering contractors have been selected and basic engineering has commenced.

At the 50% owned Donlin Creek project, further optimization studies are underway, primarily focused on the potential to utilize natural gas to reduce operating costs. Following completion of a scoping study for the natural gas option, in April 2010, the Board of Donlin Creek LLC approved a supplemental budget to proceed with revisions to the feasibility study to include the natural gas option. The feasibility study revisions are expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2011.

Q2 production of 1.94 million ounces of gold at total cash costs of $457 per ounce or net cash costs of $358 per ounce was ahead of plan primarily due to strong performances from Cortez, Goldstrike, and Lagunas Norte. The realized gold price for the quarter was $1,205 per ounce, $8 per ounce above the average spot price of $1,197 per ounce. Cash margins increased 56% to $748 per ounce from $479 per ounce in Q2 2009. Net cash margins increased 48% to $847 per ounce from $571 per ounce in the same prior year period.

Adjusted Q2 net income rose 76% to $759 million, reflecting higher production and sales in conjunction with higher realized gold prices, compared to $431 million in Q2 2009. Reported Q2 net income of $783 million before net adjustments of $24 million was a Company record. Operating cash flow rose 42% to $1.02 billion from $718 million in the prior year period.

The company's address is 161 Bay Street, Suite 3700, Toronto, ON M5J 2S1, 416-861-9911, fax: 416-861-2492.