B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO) (NYSE AMERICAN: BTG) (NSX: B2G) reported Thursday that two of its employees died after encountering an off-site robbery incident while being transported from the mine to the capital of Mali.
The Vancouver-based company said the employees passed away as a result of injuries because of the robbery but B2Gold said it was not related to any terrorist activity. Mining and processing activities at the Fekola Mine remain unaffected.
A local bus contractor was transporting B2Gold employees from the Fekola Mine to Bamako when it encountered an ongoing armed robbery approximately 75 kilometres west of Bamako.
Security forces accompanying the bus transport helped B2Gold personnel but the incident resulted in the death of two employees. Initial reports indicate all other employees on the bus have been safely accounted for and are being transported to Bamako for assistance.
“B2Gold wants to first and foremost express its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased employees. Our immediate concerns are for the safety and well-being of the B2Gold employees and the public and to minimize the impact on the surrounding area,” said the company in a statement.
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B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold producer founded in 2007. It has operating gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the Philippines and numerous exploration and development projects in various countries including Mali, Colombia, Finland and Uzbekistan. B2Gold forecasts total consolidated gold production of between 990,000 and 1,050,000 ounces in 2022.
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