In a statement released to coincide with Barrick Gold’s 2022 Annual General Meeting, organizers from the Dominican Republic raised serious concerns about the negative social and environmental impacts of Barrick Gold’s proposed Pueblo Viejo expansion. Global Justice Clinic partners Centro Montalvo and AfrosRD joined communities from Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, and Alaska in making the statement, with the support and coordination of MiningWatch Canada.

The Pueblo Viejo gold mine is one of the ten largest mines in the world. Barrick Gold’s planned expansion seeks to extend the life of the mine, including through the construction of a new tailings dam to store the mine’s waste. Affected communities have mounted consistent mobilization in opposition to the expansion. Dominican social movements, politicians, faith leaders, and affected communities have expressed grave concern about the environmental and social impacts of the proposed tailings dam. GJC has helped coordinate two global solidarity letters with communities opposing the expansion, including to raise concerns over how the project may exacerbate vulnerability to climate change and Barrick’s track record of environmental harm.

Faced with strong opposition, in March 2022 the Dominican government announced that Barrick would not be allowed  to build the proposed dam in its preferred location. The company and government are focused on finding an alternative site, while communities continue to protest the project.

Read the full statement in English and in Spanish.