Barrick trims 2020 guidance over PNG dispute, earnings jump

Gold major Barrick has withdrawn its full-year guidance for the Porgera mine after it placed the operation on care-and-maintenance late last month, amid a dispute with the Papua New Guinea government over the renewal of a 20-year special mining lease.

The decision means that the Toronto-headquartered group has trimmed its guidance for the year, which will now range between 4.6-million and 5-million ounces. The company previously forecast that it will produce between 4.8-million and 5.2-million ounces of gold in 2020.