Barrick: Chile Supreme Court Not To Consider Appeal Over Pascua-Lama Project

(RTTNews) - Barrick Gold Corp (ABX, ABX.TO) on Wednesday said the Supreme Court of Chile has declined to consider an appeal of a lower court decision regarding sanctions imposed on its Pascua-Lama mining project by the country's environmental regulator.

An earlier ruling by Chile's Environment Court found that the environmental regulator (known as the SMA) improperly determined administrative fines levied against Barrick for permit infractions identified in 2013. Barrick sought to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court, arguing the fines were calculated based on applicable law and commonly accepted legal principles. The Supreme Court declined to consider the appeal on procedural grounds, ruling that Barrick is not a party to the case, because the original action was brought against the government regulator.

As a result of the Supreme Court's ruling, the SMA will now reevaluate the administrative fines it imposed on the Pascua-Lama project.

Barrick said it remains committed to working with its stakeholders and local communities in Chile to advance Pascua-Lama in an environmentally responsible manner, respecting legal and regulatory requirements.