By Luis Andres Henao
The Associated Press
Barrick Gold said Wednesday that it has reached a preliminary deal with a Chilean indigenous group that it hopes will eventually open the way to restarting its Pascua-Lama mine high in the Andes.
The world’s biggest gold producer said the memorandum of understanding was worked out with 15 Diaguita communities, which are just downstream from the mine straddling the Argentina-Chile border.
The Diaguitas have complained that Pascua-Lama threatens their water supply and pollutes nearby glaciers. In May 2013, Chile’s environmental regulator blocked work at Pascua-Lama, citing “very serious” violations of its work permit. Then in October, Barrick announced it would suspend construction of the $8.5 billion (U.S.) mine.