40-F
B2GOLD CORP (BTG)
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 40-F
☐ Registration statement pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or
☒ Annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2024 Commission File Number: 001-35936
B2Gold Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| British Columbia<br><br>(Province or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | 1040<br><br>(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code) | Not Applicable<br><br>(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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Park Place
Suite 3400 - 666 Burrard Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 2X8
(604) 681-8371
(Address and telephone number of registrant’s principal executive offices)
| CT Corporation System<br><br>28 Liberty Street<br><br>New York, New York 10005<br><br>(215) 590-9070<br><br>(Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code) of agent for service in the United States) |
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class: | Trading Symbol(s): | Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered: |
|---|---|---|
| Common Shares, no par value | BTG | NYSE American LLC |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
For annual reports, indicate by check mark the information filed with this form:
☒ Annual Information Form ☒ Audited Annual Financial Statements
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the registrant’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report: As of December 31, 2024, there were 1,318,040,605 common shares outstanding.
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. ☐ Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to § 240.10D-1(b). ☐
EXPLANATORY NOTE
B2Gold Corp. (“we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”) is a Canadian corporation that is permitted, under a multijurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the United States, to prepare this Annual Report on Form 40-F (“Annual Report”) pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), in accordance with disclosure requirements in effect in Canada, which are different from those of the United States.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report and the Exhibits incorporated by reference herein contain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, including: projections; outlook; guidance; forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or estimated financial and operational performance, gold production and sales, gold extraction, revenues and cash flows, capital costs (sustaining and non-sustaining) and operating costs, including projected cash operating costs and all-in sustaining costs, and budgets on a consolidated and mine by mine basis, which if they occur, would have on our business, our planned capital and exploration expenditures; future or estimated mine life, metal price assumptions, ore grades or sources, gold recovery rates, stripping ratios, throughput and ore processing; electricity and power demands; statements regarding anticipated exploration, drilling, development, construction, permitting and other activities or achievements of the Company; and including, without limitation: remaining well positioned for continued strong operational and financial performance in 2025; projected gold production, cash operating costs and all-in sustaining costs on a consolidated and mine by mine basis in 2025 for the Fekola Complex, the Otjikoto Mine, the Masbate Gold Project and the Goose Project; total consolidated gold production of between 970,000 and 1,075,000 ounces in 2025; gold production at the Fekola Complex increasing in 2025 relative to 2024; the Goose Project producing approximately 300,000 ounces of gold per year for the first six full years of production; the first gold pour at the Goose Project occurring in the second quarter of 2025; the receipt of a permit for Fekola underground and Fekola underground commencing operation in mid-2025; the receipt of the exploitation permit for Fekola Regional and the timing and amount of gold production in connection therewith; the implication of the 2023 mining code and the 2024 MOU; for the Antelope deposit contributing to gold production at the Otjikoto Mine starting in 2026; the completion of a feasibility study on the Gramalote Priject in mid-2025 and the results thereof; the potential to develop the Gramalote Project as an open pit gold mine; the potential payment of future dividends, including the timing and amount of any such dividends, and the expectation that quarterly dividends will be maintained at the same level; our ability to service our debts; the availability of our revolving credit facility for future draw downs; our ability to pay interest on the convertible notes, redeem the convertible notes at our option, or purchase the convertible notes as per their terms; certain statements related to the Company’s intention to implement the Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”), and the proposed terms thereof. All statements in this Annual Report and the Exhibits incorporated by reference herein that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements or information generally identified by the use of the words “believe”, “will”, “advance”, “achieve”, “strategy”, “increase”, “plan”, “vision”, “improve”, “maintain”, “potential”, “intend”, “on budget”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “estimate”, “on track”, “target”, “objective”, and similar expressions and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, or “should”, or the negative connotation of such terms, are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We have based these forward-looking statements and information on our current expectations and projections about future events.
Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company’s control, including risks associated with or related to: the volatility of metal prices and the Company’s common shares; changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates; not achieving production, cost or other estimates; actual production, development plans and costs differing materially from the estimates in the Company’s feasibility and other studies; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for mining activities; environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and climate change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves and identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of companies acquired by the Company; the ability to successfully integrate new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential restrictions imposed on the Company's operations as a result thereof and the ability to generate
sufficient cash flows; operations in foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign laws, including those associated with operations in Mali, Namibia, the Philippines and Colombia and including risks related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally; remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and joint venture partners; the lack of sole decision-making authority related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns the Masbate Project; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; competition with other mining companies; community support for the Company's operations, including risks related to strikes and the halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small scale miners; failures of information systems or information security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting as required by law, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures; social media and the Company's reputation; as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Information Form, this Annual Report and our other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which may be viewed at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov, respectively. The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements.
While we consider these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained in this Annual Report and the Exhibits incorporated by reference herein. We caution that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information contained in this Annual Report and the Exhibits incorporated herein. As a result, actual actions, events or results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, and there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended including, without limitation, those referred to in our Annual Information Form incorporated by reference as Exhibit 99.1 to this Annual Report under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of our forward-looking statements and information. Forward-looking statements and information are designed to help readers understand management’s views as of that time with respect to future events and speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by applicable law, we assume no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement or information contained or incorporated by reference to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements and information. If we update any one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements and information contained in this Annual Report and the Exhibits incorporated herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
RESOURCE AND RESERVE ESTIMATES
This Annual Report and the Exhibits incorporated by reference herein and therein, have been prepared in accordance with Canadian standards for the reporting of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, which differ from the previous and current standards of the United States securities laws. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the terms “mineral reserve”, “proven mineral reserve”, “probable mineral reserve”, “inferred mineral resources,”, “indicated mineral resources,” “measured mineral resources” and “mineral resources” used or referenced in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein are Canadian mineral disclosure terms as defined in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the “CIM”) – CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the “CIM Definition Standards”).
For United States reporting purposes, the SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules (the "SEC Modernization Rules") to modernize the mining property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the Exchange Act. As a foreign private issuer that is eligible to file reports with the SEC pursuant to the MJDS, we are not required to provide disclosure on our mineral properties under the SEC
Modernization Rules and we provide disclosure under NI 43-101 and the CIM Definition Standards. Accordingly, mineral reserve and mineral resource information contained in this Annual Report and the Exhibits incorporated by reference herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by United States companies.
As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources." In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of "proven mineral reserves" and "probable mineral reserves" to be "substantially similar" to the corresponding CIM Definition Standards that are required under NI 43-101. While the above terms are "substantially similar" to CIM Definition Standards, there are differences in the definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definition Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance that any mineral reserves or mineral resources that we may report as "proven mineral reserves", "probable mineral reserves", "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had we prepared the reserve or resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Further, estimates of inferred mineral resources have significant geological uncertainty and it should not be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will be converted to the measured or indicated categories. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not meet the threshold for reserve modifying factors, such as estimated economic viability, that would allow for conversion to mineral reserves.
DIFFERENCES IN UNITED STATES AND CANADIAN REPORTING PRACTICES
We prepare our annual financial statements, which are filed with this report on Form 40-F, in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Accordingly, our financial statements may not be comparable to financial statements of companies in the United States.
NYSE AMERICAN STATEMENT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DIFFERENCES
As a Canadian corporation listed on the NYSE American LLC (the “NYSE American”) and a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are permitted to follow our home country practice in lieu of certain NYSE American corporate governance standards. In order to claim these exemptions, Section 110 of the NYSE American Company Guide requires us to provide to the NYSE American written certification from independent Canadian counsel that the non-complying practice is not prohibited by Canadian law. In addition, we must disclose the significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those U.S. domestic issuers are required to follow under the NYSE American corporate governance standards. Except as set forth below, we are in compliance with NYSE American corporate governance standards.
Section 123 of the NYSE American Company Guide recommends that the minimum quorum requirement for a meeting of shareholders is 33 1/3 % of the outstanding common shares. In addition, Section 123 requires that an issuer listed on NYSE American state its quorum requirement in its bylaws. We follow Canadian laws with respect to quorum requirements. Our quorum requirement is set forth in our articles, which provide that a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of shareholders is two shareholders present in person or represented by proxy who hold at least 5% of the issued common shares entitled to vote at the meeting.
The NYSE American Company Guide requires that the solicitation of proxies and delivery of proxy statements for all shareholder meetings be solicited pursuant to a proxy statement that conforms to the proxy rules of the SEC. We solicit proxies in accordance with the British Columbia Business Corporations Act, applicable Canadian securities laws, including National Instrument 54-101 and National Instrument 51-102, and the rules and policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange, which may differ in certain respects from the proxy rules of the SEC.
The NYSE American Company Guide generally requires a company’s compensation committee to consist solely of independent directors. We may from time to time appoint to our compensation committee one or more directors that are not independent, in compliance with applicable Canadian securities regulations and the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The NYSE American Company Guide requires a listed company to obtain the approval of its shareholders for certain types of securities issuances, including private placements that may result in the issuance of common shares (or securities convertible into common shares) equal to 20% or more of presently outstanding shares for less than the greater of book or market value of the shares. Under Canadian laws and applicable Toronto Stock Exchange rules, shareholder approval is required for certain transactions including private placements or acquisitions where more than 25% of presently outstanding shares are issued or issuable, where securities issued or issuable to insiders exceed 10% in the context of an acquisition, where the transaction results in a change of control or certain related party transactions. We will seek a waiver from NYSE American’s shareholder approval requirements in circumstances where the securities issuance does not trigger such a requirement under the British Columbia Business Corporations Act, applicable Canadian securities regulations or the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The following documents, or the portions thereof indicated below, that are filed as exhibits to this Annual Report, are incorporated herein by reference.
•Annual Information Form of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024;
•Management’s Discussion and Analysis of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024; and
•Audited Annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 and notes thereto, together with the report of auditors thereon.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Information regarding our disclosure controls and procedures, internal control over financial reporting and changes in internal control over financial reporting is included in the Management Discussion and Analysis incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.3, under the heading “Disclosure Controls and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.”
Our independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PCAOB ID No 271) has audited our internal controls over financial reporting. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s report is located with our Audited Annual Consolidated Financial Statements, which are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2.
NOTICES PURSUANT TO REGULATION BTR
There were no notices required by Rule 104 of Regulation BTR that the Company sent during the year ended December 31, 2024 concerning any equity security subject to a blackout period under Rule 101 of Regulation BTR.
AUDIT COMMITTEE AND AUDITOR INFORMATION
We have a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The following information is included in the “Audit Committee”, “Audit Committee—Composition of the Audit Committee”, “Audit Committee—Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures” and “Audit Committee—External Auditor Service Fees” sections of our Annual Information Form, which are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1:
•Information regarding our Audit Committee composition, independence, audit committee financial expert and pre-approval policies and procedures; and
•Information regarding fees billed by our principal accountants for each of the last two fiscal years.
CODE OF ETHICS
We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company did not make any amendments to the code of business conduct and ethics, nor did the Company grant any waiver or implicit waiver of the code to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of the code of business conduct and ethics, as amended, was previously filed with the SEC and is posted on our website at https://www.b2gold.com/about/corporate-governance/default.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements.
CONTRACTUAL AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
Information regarding our contractual and other obligations is included in the Management Discussion and Analysis incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.3, under the heading "Liquidity and Capital Resources".
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
We do not operate any mine in the United States and have no mine safety incidents to report for the year ended December 31, 2024.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
RECOVERY OF ERRONEOUSLY AWARDED COMPENSATION
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we were not required to prepare an accounting restatement, nor was there an outstanding balance as of December 31, 2024 of erroneously awarded compensation to be recovered from the application of our compensation recovery policy to a prior restatement. A copy of the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Clawback Policy is attached hereto as Exhibit 97.
UNDERTAKINGS
We undertake to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the SEC staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the SEC staff, information relating to the securities registered pursuant to Form 40-F; the securities in relation to which the obligation to file an annual report on Form 40-F arises; or transactions in said securities.
CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS
We have previously filed with the SEC a written consent to service of process and power of attorney on Form F-X. Any change to the name or address of our agent for service shall be communicated promptly to the SEC by amendment to the Form F-X referencing our file number.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Company certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| B2GOLD CORP. | |
|---|---|
| /s/ Clive Johnson | |
| Name: Clive Johnson | |
| Title: President and Chief Executive Officer | |
| Date: March 28, 2025 |
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following documents are being filed with the SEC as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 40-F.
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.1 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| INTRODUCTORY NOTES | 4 |
| Date of Information | 4 |
| Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information | 4 |
| Currency and Exchange Rate Information | 6 |
| Production Results, Technical Information and Cautionary Note for United States Readers | 6 |
| CORPORATE STRUCTURE | 9 |
| Name, Address and Incorporation | 9 |
| Intercorporate Relationships | 9 |
| GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS | 10 |
| Three Year History | 10 |
| DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS | 15 |
| General | 15 |
| Principal Product | 16 |
| Special Skills and Knowledge | 16 |
| Competitive Conditions | 16 |
| Cycles | 16 |
| Employees | 17 |
| International Operations | 17 |
| Environmental Protection | 17 |
| Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety, Social and Regulatory | 18 |
| SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESERVE AND MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATES | 23 |
| Probable Mineral Reserves Statement | 23 |
| Indicated Mineral Resource Statement | 25 |
| Inferred Mineral Resource Statement | 25 |
| MATERIAL PROPERTIES | 28 |
| Fekola Complex | 28 |
| Masbate Gold Project | 54 |
| Otjikoto Mine | 67 |
| Goose Project | 82 |
| OTHER PROPERTIES | 101 |
| Gramalote Project | 101 |
| RISK FACTORS | 103 |
| DIVIDENDS | 132 |
| DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE | 133 |
| Common Shares | 133 |
| Preferred Shares | 133 |
| MARKET FOR SECURITIES | 134 |
| Trading Price and Volume | 134 |
| DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | 135 |
| Shareholdings of Directors and Executive Officers | 137 |
| Cease Trade Orders, Bankruptcies, Penalties or Sanctions | 137 |
| Conflicts of Interest | 138 |
| AUDIT COMMITTEE | 138 |
| Composition of the Audit Committee | 139 |
| Audit Committee Oversight | 141 |
| Reliance on Certain Exemptions | 141 |
| Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures | 141 |
| External Auditor Service Fees | 142 |
| LEGAL PROCEEDINGS | 142 |
| INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS | 142 |
| B2GOLD 2025 Annual Information Form | |
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| TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR | 142 |
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| MATERIAL CONTRACTS | 142 |
| NAMES OF EXPERTS AND INTEREST OF EXPERTS | 143 |
| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 143 |
| SCHEDULE A AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER | A-1 |
| B2GOLD 2025 Annual Information Form | |
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B2GOLD CORP. ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM
INTRODUCTORY NOTES
Date of Information
In this Annual Information Form ("AIF"), B2Gold Corp., together with its subsidiaries, as the context requires, is referred to as "we", "our", "us", the "Company" or "B2Gold". All information contained in this AIF is as at December 31, 2024, unless otherwise stated, being the date of our most recently completed financial year, and the use of the present tense and of the words "is", "are", "current", "currently", "presently", "now" and similar expressions in this AIF is to be construed as referring to information given as of that date. Readers are also encouraged to review our annual financial statements and management's discussion and analysis of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Cautionary Note have the meaning given to them in this AIF.
This AIF includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively “forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, including: projections; outlook; guidance; forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or estimated financial and operational performance, gold production and sales, gold extraction, revenues and cash flows, capital costs (sustaining and non-sustaining) and operating costs, including projected cash operating costs and all-in sustaining costs, and budgets on a consolidated and mine by mine basis; future or estimated mine life, metal price assumptions, ore grades or sources, gold recovery rates, stripping ratios, throughput and ore processing; electricity and power demands; statements regarding anticipated exploration, drilling, development, construction, permitting and other activities or achievements of B2Gold; and including, without limitation: remaining well positioned for continued strong operational and financial performance in 2025; projected gold production, cash operating costs and all-in sustaining costs on a consolidated and mine by mine basis in 2025 for the Fekola Complex, the Otjikoto Mine, the Masbate Gold Project and the Goose Project total consolidated gold production of between 970,000 and 1,075,000 ounces in 2025; gold production at the Fekola Complex increasing in 2025 relative to 2024; the Goose Project producing approximately 300,000 ounces of gold per year for the first six full years of production; the first gold pour at the Goose Project occurring in the second quarter of 2025; the receipt of a permit for Fekola underground and Fekola underground commencing operation in mid-2025; the receipt of the exploitation permit for Fekola Regional and the timing and amount of gold production in connection therewith; the implications of the 2023 Mining Code and 2024 MOU; the Antelope deposit contributing to gold production at the Otjikoto Mine starting in 2026; the completion of a feasibility study on the Gramalote Project in mid-2025 and the results thereof; the potential to develop the Gramalote Project as an open pit gold mine; the potential payment of future dividends, including the timing and amount of any such dividends, and the expectation that quarterly dividends will be maintained at the same level; our ability to service our debts; the availability of our revolving credit facility for future drawdowns; our ability to pay interest on the convertible notes, redeem the convertible notes at our option, or purchase the convertible notes as per their terms; certain statements related to B2Gold’s intention to implement a Normal Course Issuer Bid, and the proposed terms thereof. All statements in this AIF that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made.
| B2GOLD 2025 Annual Information Form |
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Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond our control, including risks associated with or related to: the volatility of metal prices and our common shares; changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates; not achieving production, cost or other estimates; actual production, development plans and costs differing materially from the estimates in our feasibility and other studies; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for mining activities; environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and climate change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves and identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of companies acquired by us; the ability to successfully integrate new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential restrictions imposed on our operations as a result thereof and the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign laws, including those associated with operations in Mali, Namibia, the Philippines and Colombia and including risks related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally; remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and joint venture partners; the lack of sole decision-making authority related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns the Masbate Project; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; competition with other mining companies; community support for our operations, including risks related to strikes and the halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small scale miners; failures of information systems or information security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting as required by law, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures; social media and our reputation; as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in this AIF and our other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which may be viewed at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov, respectively. The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect B2Gold's forward-looking statements.
Our forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to our ability to carry on current and future operations, including: development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; our ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.
| B2GOLD 2025 Annual Information Form |
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Our forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. We do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities we will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
All the forward-looking statements contained in this AIF are qualified by these cautionary statements.
Currency and Exchange Rate Information
Our financial statements are reported in U.S. dollars. All dollar amounts referenced in this AIF, unless otherwise indicated, are expressed in U.S. dollars. A reference in this AIF to:
- "A$" **** is to the lawful currency of Australia;
- "C$"or "Canadian dollar" is to the lawful currency of Canada;
- "N$" is to the lawful currency of Namibia; and
- "$", "US$" or "U.S. dollar" is to the lawful currency of the United States.
The high, low, average and closing exchange rates for Canadian dollars in terms of U.S. dollars, as quoted by the Bank of Canada, for each of the last three calendar years , were as follows:
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest rate during period | US$0.7510 | US$0.7617 | US$0.8031 |
| Lowest rate during period | US$0.6937 | US$0.7207 | US$0.7217 |
| Average rate during period | US$0.7302 | US$0.7410 | US$0.7692 |
| Rate at the end of period | US$0.6950 | US$0.7561 | US$0.7383 |
On March 25, 2025, the daily average rate of exchange for one Canadian dollar in U.S. dollars, as quoted by the Bank of Canada, was C$1.00 = US$0.6995.
Production Results, Technical Information and Cautionary Note for United States Readers
Actual and projected production results presented in this AIF reflect total production at the mines we operate on a 100% project basis. As further discussed in this AIF, a wholly-owned B2Gold subsidiary has a direct ownership interest of 80% in the Fekola Mine, 90% in the Otjikoto Mine, and the right to purchase 100% of the ore from the Masbate Gold Project (each mine and project are as defined herein). In respect of Calibre Mining Corp. ("Calibre"), attributable production was included up to June 20, 2024 (being, 19,644 ounces).
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The disclosure included in this AIF uses Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource classification terms that comply with reporting standards in Canada and the Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates are made in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Council - Definition Standards for Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves adopted by CIM Council on May 19, 2014 (the "CIM Standards"), which were adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators' (the "CSA") National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the CSA that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. The following definitions are reproduced from the CIM Standards:
A Modifying Factor or Modifying Factors are considerations used to convert Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves. These include, but are not restricted to, mining, processing, metallurgical, infrastructure, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental factors.
A Mineral Resource is a concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest in or on the earth's crust in such form, grade or quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade or quality, continuity and other geological characteristics of a Mineral Resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge, including sampling. Mineral Resources are sub-divided, in order of increasing geological confidence, into Inferred, Indicated and Measured categories.
An Inferred Mineral Resource is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration.
An Indicated Mineral Resource is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics are estimated with sufficient confidence to allow the application of Modifying Factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Geological evidence is derived from adequately detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing and is sufficient to assume geological and grade or quality continuity between points of observation. An Indicated Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to a Measured Mineral Resource and may only be converted to a Probable Mineral Reserve.
A Measured Mineral Resource is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape, and physical characteristics are estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the application of Modifying Factors to support detailed mine planning and final evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Geological evidence is derived from detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing and is sufficient to confirm geological and grade or quality continuity between points of observation. A Measured Mineral Resource has a higher level of confidence than that applying to either an Indicated Mineral Resource or an Inferred Mineral Resource. It may be converted to a Proven Mineral Reserve or to a Probable Mineral Reserve.
A Mineral Reserve is the economically mineable part of a Measured and/or Indicated Mineral Resource. It includes diluting materials and allowances for losses, which may occur when the material is mined or extracted and is defined by studies at pre-feasibility or feasibility level as appropriate that include application of Modifying Factors. Such studies demonstrate that, at the time of reporting, extraction could reasonably be justified. The reference point at which Mineral Reserves are defined, usually the point where the ore is delivered to the processing plant, must be stated. It is important that, in all situations where the reference point is different, such as for a saleable product, a clarifying statement is included to ensure that the reader is fully informed as to what is being reported. The public disclosure of a Mineral Reserve must be demonstrated by a pre-feasibility study or feasibility study.
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A Probable Mineral Reserve is the economically mineable part of an Indicated, and in some circumstances, a Measured Mineral Resource. The confidence in the Modifying Factors applying to a Probable Mineral Reserve is lower than that applying to a Proven Mineral Reserve.
A Proven Mineral Reserve is the economically mineable part of a Measured Mineral Resource. A Proven Mineral Reserve implies a high degree of confidence in the Modifying Factors.
For United States reporting purposes, the SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules (the "SEC Modernization Rules") to modernize the mining property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). As a foreign private issuer that is eligible to file reports with the SEC pursuant to the multijurisdictional disclosure system with the U.S., we are not required to provide disclosure on our mineral properties under the SEC Modernization Rules and we provide disclosure under NI 43-101 and the CIM Definition Standards. Accordingly, mineral reserve and mineral resource information contained in this AIF may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by United States companies.
As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources." In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of "proven mineral reserves" and "probable mineral reserves" to be "substantially similar" to the corresponding CIM Definition Standards that are required under NI 43-101. While the above terms are "substantially similar" to CIM Definition Standards, there are differences in the definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definition Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance that any mineral reserves or mineral resources that we may report as "proven mineral reserves", "probable mineral reserves", "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had we prepared the reserve or resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Further, estimates of inferred mineral resources have significant geological uncertainty and it should not be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will be converted to the measured or indicated categories. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not meet the threshold for reserve modifying factors, such as estimated economic viability, that would allow for conversion to mineral reserves.
The term "Qualified Person" as used in this AIF means a Qualified Person as that term is defined in NI 43-101. Except where otherwise disclosed, William Lytle, P.E., Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of B2Gold, a Qualified Person, has approved the scientific and technical information related to operations matters contained in this AIF and Andrew Brown, P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration of B2Gold, a Qualified Person, has approved the scientific and technical information regarding exploration matters contained in this AIF.
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CORPORATE STRUCTURE
Name, Address and Incorporation
B2Gold was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “BCBCA”) on November 30, 2006. Our head office is located at Suite 3400, Park Place, 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and our registered office is located at Suite 1600 – 925 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Intercorporate Relationships
A significant portion of our business is carried on through our subsidiaries. The chart below includes the name and jurisdiction of incorporation of our material subsidiaries and certain subsidiaries holding an interest in mineral projects that we consider significant as described in this AIF. All ownership of subsidiaries is 100% unless otherwise indicated. Certain subsidiaries are indirectly owned by us through wholly-owned subsidiaries not reflected below.

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GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS
We are an international, responsible gold producer based in Vancouver, Canada with three operating mines (one mine in each of Mali, Namibia and the Philippines) and one mine under construction in Nunavut, Canada. **** In addition, we have a portfolio of other development and exploration projects in several countries including Mali, Finland, Cote d'Ivoire and Colombia. Our material properties consist of the following three mines and one mine under construction:
- Fekola mine (80% ownership), an open pit and future underground gold mine located approximately 40 kilometres ("km") south of the city of Kéniéba, Mali (the "Fekola Mine");
- Otjikoto mine (90% ownership), an open pit and underground gold mine located approximately 300 km north of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia (the "Otjikoto Mine");
- Masbate gold project (ownership as described under "Material Properties - Masbate Gold Project" below), an open pit gold mine, located near the northern tip of the island of Masbate, 360 km southeast of Manila, the capital of the Philippines (the "Masbate Gold Project"); and
- Goose project (100% ownership), an open pit and underground gold mine under construction located in the Back River Gold District in Nunavut, Canada, approximately 520 km northeast of Yellowknife, the Northwest Territories (the "Goose Project").

Three Year History
Over the three most recently completed financial years, the significant events described below contributed to the development of our business.
2022 Developments
On February 2, 2022, we announced that a Malian subsidiary of B2Gold had received a new exploration permit covering the same perimeter as the Menankoto exploration permit (the “Menankoto Permit”), issued by the Government in compliance with the procedures and requirements set out under Mali’s 2019 Mining Code (the “2019 Mining Code”) (the previous permit had been issued under Mali’s 2012 Mining Code (the “2012 Mining Code”)), which provides for an initial term of three years and is renewable for two additional three year periods. Menankoto SARL subsequently withdrew the related international arbitration proceedings against the Republic of Mali.
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On February 2, 2022, we announced an updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Cardinal zone, which is a conventional open pit located within 500 metres (“m”) of the Fekola open pit (the “Fekola Open Pit”) and includes the Cardinal and FMZ deposits (the “Cardinal Zone”).
In March 2022, we announced an updated and significantly increased Mineral Resource estimate (including initial estimates for oxide Indicated Mineral Resources and sulphide Inferred Mineral Resources) for the Menankoto Permit and the Bantako Nord exploration permit (the “Bantako Nord Permit”), located approximately 20 km north of the Fekola Mine.
On April 21, 2022, we completed the acquisition of the Bakolobi research permit in Mali from a local Malian company (the "Bakolobi Permit"), which forms part of the Anaconda Area. The Bakolobi Permit has an area of 100 square kilometers ("km^2^") and is held by our subsidiary MaliCan Exploration SARL. It occupies the gap between the northern boundary of the Médinandi Exploitation Licence (as defined below) and the southern boundary of the Menankoto Permit. The acquisition of the Bakolobi Permit results in the ownership by the Company of four contiguous exploration and/or exploitation permits covering 237 km^2^, extending from the northwestern end of the Bantako Nord Permit and the north-east of the Menankoto Permit, southwest of the Médinandi Exploitation Licence (which hosts the Fekola Open Pit and Cardinal Zone) to the southeast end of the Bakolobi Permit.
On September 20, 2022, we acquired Oklo Resources Limited (“Oklo”), in consideration for 0.0206 of a B2Gold common share (each whole share, a “Common Share”) and A$0.0525 in cash for each ordinary share of Oklo. On closing, we issued 10,742,814 Common Shares to Oklo shareholders, representing approximately 1% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis, and paid aggregate cash consideration of approximately A$27.4 million to Oklo shareholders. The acquisition of Oklo provided us with additional landholding covering the highly prospective greenstone belt in Mali, including the 100 km^2^Dandoko exploration permit (the “Dandoko Permit”). The Dandoko Permit is located on a subparallel, north-trending structure east of the prolific Senegal-Mali Shear Zone, approximately 25 km from the Fekola Mine and approximately 25 km from the Anaconda Area.
2023 Developments
On January 1, 2023, Ms. Lisa Pankratz was appointed to our board of directors (the "Board").
On January 26, 2023, we announced a target to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions by 30% by 2030 against a 2021 baseline. We continue to be an innovative leader within the mining industry with respect to the management of sustainability issues and this commitment to GHG emissions reduction forms a key part of our Climate Strategy, incorporating climate management as a part of our business strategy and planning process. To achieve our GHG emission reduction target, we are pursuing initiatives to increase the proportion of renewable energy sources, electrify operations, and improve energy efficiency. Our Otjikoto and Fekola operations both maintain fully autonomous hybrid power plants consisting of 5.8 megawatt (“MW”) and 30 MW solar installed capacity, respectively. We also expanded our hybrid solar plant at the Fekola Mine (the “Fekola Solar Plant”). Construction of the Fekola Solar Plant expansion project commenced in the third quarter of 2023 and completed in the fourth quarter of 2024. The expanded Fekola Solar Plant is expected to reduce annual emissions by an estimated 63,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and reduce the annual consumption of heavy fuel oil (“HFO”) by an estimated 20 million liters. The expanded Fekola Solar Plant is expected to supply approximately 30% of the site’s total electricity demand and is considered to be one of the largest off-grid solar/HFO hybrid power plants in the world.
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On April 19, 2023, we completed the acquisition of Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. ("Sabina"), by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the BCBCA (the "Sabina Transaction"). As consideration under the Sabina Transaction, we issued 0.3867 of a Common Share for each Sabina common share, resulting in the issuance of approximately 216 million Common Shares. Through the Sabina Transaction, we acquired Sabina's 100% owned Back River Gold District, which is located in southwestern Nunavut, Canada, approximately 520 km northeast of Yellowknife. The district comprises mining leases and claims covering approximately 97,481.96 hectares ("ha") with eight **** mineral claim blocks on the 183 km belt. The most advanced is the fully permitted Goose Project, currently under construction, with first gold pour expected in the second quarter of 2025. The second most advanced is the George project, situated approximately 60 km northwest from the Goose Project. Significant infrastructure exists at the Goose Project site along with the port facility at Bathurst Inlet. A Framework Agreement was signed with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association ("KIA") outlining renewable 20-year benefit and land tenure agreements. B2Gold recognizes that respect and collaboration with the KIA is central to the licence to operate in the district and will continue to prioritize developing the project in a manner that recognizes Indigenous input and concerns and brings long-term socio-economic benefits to the area.
On June 21, 2023, we released an updated and significantly increased Mineral Resource estimate (including initial estimates for sulphide Indicated Mineral Resources) for the Anaconda Area, comprised of the Menankoto Permit, the Bantako Nord Permit and the Bakolobi Permit, located approximately 20 km north of the Fekola Mine. The updated and significantly increased Mineral Resource estimate constrained within a conceptual pit shell at a gold price of $1,800 per ounce includes an initial Indicated Mineral Resource estimate of 57,100,000 tonnes at 1.11 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold for a total 2,030,000 ounces of gold, and an Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 46,600,000 tonnes at 1.33 g/t gold for 2,000,000 ounces of gold. The Mineral Resource estimate includes first time reporting of sulphide Indicated Mineral Resource estimate of 17,400,000 tonnes at 1.40 g/t gold for a total of 780,000 ounces of gold, together with a sulphide Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 37,100,000 tonnes at 1.44 g/t gold for a total of 1,720,000 ounces of gold. Sulphide Inferred gold grade improved by 15% from the March 2022 Mineral Resource estimate.
On June 23, 2023, at our 2023 annual general and special meeting of shareholders, Kelvin Dushnisky and Thabile Makgala were elected to our Board. Mr. Dushnisky was subsequently appointed as the Chair of the Board, succeeding Robert Cross who did not stand for re-election.
In July 2023, our revolving credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility") was increased from $600 million to $700 million under the accordion feature with the addition of the National Bank of Canada to the syndicate of lenders.
On August 28, 2023, we implemented a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the "DRIP"). The DRIP provides our shareholders residing in Canada and the United States (or in certain other eligible jurisdictions) with the opportunity to have the cash dividends declared on all or some of their Common Shares automatically reinvested into additional Common Shares on an ongoing basis. Participation in the DRIP is optional and will not affect shareholders' cash dividends unless they elect to participate in the DRIP. Dividends are only payable as and when declared by our Board. A Form F-3D registration statement was filed with the SEC and became effective upon filing on September 1, 2023.
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On October 5, 2023, we acquired the remaining 50% of the Gramalote Project from AngloGold Ashanti Limited (“AngloGold”), located in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia, which resulted in us owning 100% of the Gramalote Project. Under the terms of this transaction, the purchase price is payable in cash and consists of the following payments to AngloGold based on, and contingent upon, certain milestones:
- $20 million paid upon closing of the transaction;
- $10 million upon B2Gold announcing a construction decision at the Gramalote Project;
- $10 million upon commercial production at the Gramalote Project, contingent on commercial production beginning within five years of closing of the transaction (if commercial production does not commence within five years of closing of the transaction, no payment will be made);
- $10 million on the first anniversary of commercial production at the Gramalote Project; and
- $10 million on the second anniversary of commercial production at the Gramalote Project.
Upon completion of the acquisition, we added 2.11 million ounces of Indicated Mineral Resources and 0.74 million ounces of Inferred Mineral Resources to our consolidated Mineral Resource inventory. In late 2023, we completed a detailed review of the Gramalote Project, including the facility size and location, power supply, mining and processing options, tailings design, resettlement, potential construction sequencing and camp design to identify potential cost savings to develop a smaller scale project. The results of the review were used to determine the optimal parameters and assumptions for the preliminary economic assessment, which was completed in the second quarter of 2024.
2024 Developments
On January 23, 2024, we completed a gold prepayment arrangement (the "Gold Prepay") for $500 million, based on gold forward curve prices averaging approximately $2,191 per ounce, in exchange for equal monthly deliveries of gold from July 2025 to June 2026 totaling 264,768 ounces, representing approximately 12% of expected annual gold production in each of 2025 and 2026 (subject to finalization of production guidance for 2026). The Gold Prepay was executed by existing Revolving Credit Facility participants, Bank of Montreal, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, ING Capital Markets LLC, and National Bank of Canada.
The 2024 winter ice road (“WIR”) campaign successfully concluded in May 2024, delivering all necessary materials from the Marine Laydown Area (“MLA”) at the Bathurst Inlet for the construction of the Goose Project. Materials trucked from the MLA to the Goose Project site during the 2024 WIR campaign exceeded 2,100 total loads and included 400 loads of diesel fuel.
On June 18, 2024, we released the results of a positive preliminary economic assessment (“PEA”) on our 100% owned Gramalote Project in Colombia. Highlights of the PEA, include a significant production profile with average annual gold production of 185,000 ounces over a 12.5 year project life and strong project economics with an after-tax net present value discounted at 5% of $778 million and an after-tax internal rate of return of 20.6%. We have commenced work with the goal of completing a feasibility study by mid-2025. The PEA is preliminary in nature and is based on Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the engineering and economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA based on these Mineral Resources will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
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On June 20, 2024, we sold 79 million common shares of Calibre reducing our ownership interest to approximately 4% resulting in us no longer having significant influence over Calibre. As a result, subsequent to June 20, 2024, we no longer record attributable production from Calibre. In the second half of 2024, we disposed of our remaining 32 million shares in Calibre.
On June 20, 2024, we released an initial Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate for the Springbok Zone, the southernmost shoot of the recently discovered Antelope deposit, located approximately three km south of the Phase 5 open pit at the Otjikoto Mine in Namibia. The initial Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate was sufficient to initiate a PEA on development of the deposit by underground mining methods, similar to the Wolfshag deposit.
On August 13, 2024, we **** completed the sale of a portfolio of precious and base metals royalties (the "Royalties") to Versamet Royalties Corporation ("Versamet") (formerly, Sandbox Royalties Corp.), a private, returns-focused metals royalty company. Under the terms of the sale, Versamet acquired ownership of the Royalties and as consideration issued common shares to us at a price of C$0.80 per share. We currently hold approximately 33% of Versamet (152.3 million common shares).
On September 11, 2024, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (the "2024 MOU") with the State of Mali in connection with the ongoing operation and governance of the Fekola Complex, including the development of both the underground project at the Fekola Mine (owned 80% by B2Gold and 20% by the State of Mali) and Fekola Regional.
The material terms of the 2024 MOU include:
- The Fekola Mine (including Fekola underground) continues to be governed by the 2012 Mining Code and the Fekola Mining Convention through 2040. This includes continued stability of the ownership, income tax and customs regimes and the Company's dispute resolution rights under the Fekola Mining Convention;
- Distribution of all retained earnings currently attributable to the State of Mali's 10% ordinary share interest and conversion of that interest to a 10% preferred share interest with priority dividends going forward;
- Settlement of any and all income tax assessments for the period through 2023;
- Settlement of any and all customs and regulatory disputes and assessments that are currently outstanding; and
- Acknowledgement by the State of Mali of outstanding value-added tax ("VAT") credits and agreement on a repayment schedule outlining the timing for reimbursement of outstanding VAT, together with clear guidelines on the expectation for reimbursement of VAT going forward.
As of the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company has made all payments required under the 2024 MOU.
Under the 2024 MOU, the State of Mali agreed to expedite the issuance of an exploitation permit for Fekola Regional and the approval of the exploitation phase for Fekola underground. Upon issuance of the exploitation permit for Fekola Regional, mining operations will begin with initial gold production expected to commence in late 2025, with the potential to generate approximately 180,000 ounces of additional gold production per year from Fekola Regional sources during the first four full years of production from 2026 to 2029, through the trucking of open pit ore to the Fekola mill. Initial gold production from Fekola underground is expected to commence in mid-2025.
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Greg Barnes and Basie Maree were appointed to our Board effective November 1, 2024. Following these appointments, the Board consists of ten members, nine of whom are independent.
On December 17, 2024, we completed the renewal of our Revolving Credit Facility, increasing the total available amount from $700 million to $800 million, plus a $200 million accordion feature. The maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility is now December 17, 2028, and was completed with a syndicate of banks comprised of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, as co-lead arranger and administrative agent, ING Bank N.V., Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank of Montreal, National Bank of Canada, HSBC Bank USA, and Citibank N.A., Canadian Branch.
Developments Subsequent to December 31, 2024
On January 28, 2025, we completed an offering of 2.75% convertible senior unsecured notes due on February 1, 2030 (the “Convertible Notes”) in an aggregate principal amount of $460 million, which included exercise of the full amount of the over-allotment option to purchase an additional $60 million of Convertible Notes. The initial conversion rate for the Convertible Notes is 315.2088 Common Shares per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $3.17 per Common Share.
On February 4, 2025, we announced the preliminary results of a positive PEA on the Antelope deposit located at our Otjikoto Mine, which includes an initial life of mine ("LoM") of five years, an average grade of 5.57 g/t and production LoM of approximately 327,000 oz with an average gold recovery of 95%. Based on the positive results from the PEA, the Antelope deposit has the potential to become a small-scale, low-cost, underground gold mine that can supplement the low-grade stockpile production during the period of 2028 to 2032 and result in a meaningful production profile for the Otjikoto Mine into the next decade. The PEA is preliminary in nature and is based on Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the engineering and economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA based on these Mineral Resources will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS
General
We are an international, responsible, gold producer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, with a strategic focus on acquiring and developing interests in mineral properties with demonstrated potential for hosting economic mineral deposits, with gold deposits as the primary focus. We conduct gold mining operations and exploration and drilling campaigns to define and develop Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves on our properties with an intention of developing, constructing and operating mines on such properties.
Our corporate objective is to continue to maximize profitable production from our mines, grow as a profitable and responsible gold producer through further advancement of our pipeline of development and exploration projects, evaluate new exploration, development and production opportunities, make accretive acquisitions, and continue to pay an industry competitive dividend.
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Principal Product - Markets and Distribution
Our principal product is gold. Gold can be readily sold on numerous markets throughout the world and it is easy to ascertain its market price at any particular time. Benchmark prices are generally based on the London gold market quotations. Gold bullion is held as an asset class for a variety of reasons, including as a store of value and a safeguard against the collapse of paper assets such as stocks, bonds and other financial instruments that are traded in fiat currencies not exchangeable into gold (at a fixed rate) under a “gold standard”, as a hedge against future inflation and for portfolio diversification. governments, central banks and other official institutions hold significant quantities of gold as a component of exchange reserves. Since there are a large number of available gold purchasers, we are not dependent upon the sale of gold to any one customer.
Our gold is refined to market delivery standards by several refiners throughout the world. The gold is sold to various gold bullion dealers or to refiners at market prices. Given the availability of alternative smelters or refiners, no material adverse effect would result if we lost the services of any of our current smelters or refiners. Product fabrication and bullion investment are two principal sources of gold demand. The introduction of more readily accessible and liquid gold investment vehicles has further facilitated investment in gold. Within the fabrication category, there are a wide variety of end uses, the largest of which is the manufacture of jewelry. Other fabrication purposes include official coins, electronics, miscellaneous industrial and decorative uses, dentistry, medals and medallions
Special Skills and Knowledge
Various aspects of our business require specialized skills and knowledge, certain of which are in high demand and in limited supply. Such skills and knowledge include the areas of permitting, engineering, geology, metallurgy, logistical planning, implementation of exploration programs, mine construction and development, mine operation, as well as legal compliance, finance, accounting, risk management, safety and security, community relations and human resources. We have highly qualified management personnel and staff, an active recruitment program, and believe that persons having the necessary skills are generally available. We have found that we can locate and retain competent employees and consultants in such fields and have maintained a high retention rate of highly skilled employees. We do not anticipate having significant difficulty in recruiting other personnel as needed. Training programs are in place for workers that are recruited locally. ****
Competitive Conditions
The gold exploration and mining business is a competitive business. We compete with numerous other companies (including some of the largest mining companies in the world) and individuals in the search for and the acquisition of quality gold properties, mineral claims, permits, concessions and other mineral interests, as well as recruiting and retaining qualified employees. Our ability to acquire and develop gold properties in the future will depend not only on our ability to develop and operate our present properties, but also on our ability to select and acquire suitable producing properties or prospects for development or mineral exploration.
Cycles
The mineral exploration, development and production business is subject to mineral and commodity price cycles. The marketability of minerals is also affected by worldwide economic cycles.
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Employees
Our business is administered principally from our head office in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We also have offices in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Bamako, Mali; Manila, Philippines; Windhoek, Namibia; Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada; and Medellin, Colombia. As at December 31, 2024, we, including our subsidiaries, employ a total of 4,783 permanent employees and 1,695 fixed-term (temporary) employees for a total of 6,478 employees.
Production at our mining operations is dependent upon the efforts of our employees and our relations with our unionized and non-unionized employees. Some of our employees are represented by labour unions under various collective labour agreements. The collective bargaining agreement covering the workers at the Otjikoto Mine has historically been negotiated annually, however, the current collective bargaining agreement is valid for a two-year term, which expires on February 28, 2026. In addition, our employees at the Fekola Mine are part of a union that governs the entire mining industry in Mali and the Fekola delegates have created an executive office, affiliated with the Section of Trade, Mines and Industry in Mali and the National Workers Union in Mali. Currently, all labour discussions are managed through union delegates that are elected during site-wide elections. Labour relations at each of our operations continue to be positive.
International Operations
Our principal operations and assets are located in various countries including Mali, Namibia, the Philippines, Canada and Colombia. Our operations are exposed to various levels of political, economic and other risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties vary from country to country and include, but are not limited to, government regulations (or changes to such regulations) with respect to restrictions on production, export controls, income taxes, royalties, excise and other taxes, expropriation of property, repatriation of profits, environmental legislation, land use, water use, local ownership requirements and land claims of Indigenous and local peoples, regional and national instability and security, mine safety, corruption and sanctions. The effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted. See "Risk Factors" below.
Environmental Protection
Our activities are subject to extensive laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment, natural resources and human health. These laws address, among other things: emissions into the air; discharges into water; management of waste and hazardous substances; protection of natural resources, cultural heritage and endangered species; and reclamation of lands disturbed by mining operations. We are required to obtain governmental permits and, in some instances, provide bonding requirements under federal, state, or provincial air, water quality, and mine reclamation rules and permits. Violations of environmental and health and safety laws are subject to civil sanctions and, in some cases, criminal sanctions, including the suspension or revocation of permits. The failure to comply with environmental laws and regulations or liabilities related to hazardous substance contamination could result in project development delays, material financial impacts or other material impacts to our projects and activities, fines, penalties, lawsuits by the government or private parties, or material capital expenditures.
Additionally, environmental laws in some of the countries in which we operate, as well as certain organizations that we are members of, require that we periodically perform environmental audits and impact studies at our mines. These studies could reveal presently unknown environmental impacts that would require us to make significant capital outlays or cause material changes or delays in our intended activities.
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Our current estimated aggregate closure and reclamation cost at our operating mines, being the Fekola Mine, the Masbate Gold Project and the Otjikoto Mine, is approximately $133 million on an undiscounted basis. These estimates are generally based on conceptual level engineering and will be updated periodically to reflect changes in site conditions and the LoM plans. See "Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety, Social and Regulatory" below and the disclosure regarding environmental matters under the respective descriptions of our material properties for further details regarding environmental matters.
Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety, Social and Regulatory
Our Board has a Sustainability Committee that assists the Board in overseeing occupational health and safety, sustainability, environmental (including climate change), social (including community relations and human rights) and physical security strategies, policies and programs, and related risk management and performance. The Sustainability Committee, comprised of four independent directors, meets quarterly with management to review current and emerging issues, evaluate performance and risk management, and to evaluate and update policies and procedures.
HSE Management System Standards and Performance Standards
We have implemented an integrated set of Health, Safety and Environmental ("HSE") Management System Standards ("Management System Standards") and a set of stand-alone Performance Standards for operational health and safety ("OHS") and environment and biodiversity ("Performance Standards") that identify, define and prescribe the requirements for the development, implementation and administration of HSE activities at corporate and operational site locations. The Management System Standards and Performance Standards are based on compliance with in-country regulatory requirements and conditions, and are further supported by international standards in circumstances where national regulations are not sufficiently stringent (for example, the International Organization for Standardization ("ISO") standards, and other international and industry best practices such as the Mining Association of Canada's Towards Sustainable Mining guiding principles and protocols, International Council on Mining and Metals (the "ICMM") mining principles, and the International Cyanide Management Code).
Consistent application of the Management System Standards and Performance Standards helps enable us to identify, mitigate and manage risk, and minimize impacts on the environment and surrounding communities from our activities. Management, supervisors and employees are held accountable for HSE performance and for effective implementation of the Management System Standards and Performance Standards at the site level. External third parties are engaged to conduct regularly scheduled verification audits of the Management System Standards and Performance Standards to ensure alignment and functionality.
We ensure our Management System Standards and Performance Standards are consistently, properly, and effectively implemented. We have implemented a multi-year audit schedule, and all our operating sites are audited regularly by independent experts. A HSE Management System Standards and OHS Performance Standards audit was conducted at Masbate in 2023 and at Fekola and Otjikoto in 2024. All operations previously underwent OHS Performance Standards audits in 2021 and 2022. Environmental and Biodiversity Performance Standards audits were conducted at all our operating sites in 2024. In addition to the above audits, the Masbate Gold Project is required to be certified to ISO 14001 and has maintained this certification since 2016. The Goose Project will be audited under the same processes once it enters production.
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Environmental
We updated our Environmental and Biodiversity Policy in 2023 and comprehensively updated our Environmental and Biodiversity Performance Standards in early 2024 to incorporate recent developments and improvements in industry standards, as well as our growth. B2Gold's Sustainability Strategic Plan ("Strategic Plan") identifies key environmental and social aspects for prioritization in line with the Company's environmental, social and governance ("ESG") priorities and defines specific systems and performance objectives for our operations. Operations are required to develop and implement plans to ensure objectives from the Strategic Plan are identified, budgeted for, and achieved. The Strategic Plan strengthens our governance, reduces our risks and liabilities, and supports our overall goal of continuously improving performance. Environmental aspects within the Strategic Plan are climate risk, water, tailings and waste, biodiversity, and integrated closure planning.
Community
Our Social Responsibility and Human Rights Policy defines our commitment to facilitate a positive and sustainable legacy by understanding and managing the social and economic impacts and opportunities resulting from our presence. We are committed to open and respectful engagement with our stakeholders. We respect community rights, interests and culture, and where Indigenous Peoples are identified as potentially impacted by our operations, we work to obtain their free, prior and informed consent. We recognize human rights, as defined in the International Bill of Human Rights, and align our approach to human rights risk management with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (the "UNGPs") and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (the "VPSHR").
We adopted a set of Social Performance Standards to provide minimum requirements for the social practices and performance of our operations. Our Social Performance Standards align with international best practices, including those of the International Finance Corporation (the "IFC"), the ICMM and the UNGPs. Our Social Performance Standards manage key issues including stakeholder engagement, grievance management, community investment, land acquisition and resettlement, local content, human rights, artisanal and small-scale mining ("ASM"), social closure, security and human rights, social baseline and impact assessment and management, Indigenous Peoples and cultural heritage.
We conduct audits of our Social Performance Standards with independent experts. In 2021, we conducted third-party audits at our Fekola and Otjikoto Mines. We completed the audit at the Masbate Gold Project in 2022. All operating sites are scheduled to be audited against the Social Performance Standards again in 2025. With the support of external experts, we also conduct human rights assessments and security risk assessments in accordance with the VPSHR. These assessments, including recommendations to address salient human rights risks and impacts, are discussed and confirmed with our executives and reported to the Sustainability Committee. In 2021, we carried out a VPSHR risk assessment at the Fekola Mine and Masbate Gold Project and conducted a VPSHR risk assessment and a human rights impact assessment at our Gramalote Project. In 2024, the Company conducted VPSHR assessment updates at each of the Fekola Mine, Masbate Gold Project, Otjikoto Mine and Gramalote Project and a human rights risk assessment at the Goose Project.
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Our Strategic Plan described above includes the following social aspects: stakeholder engagement; livelihood restoration; local content; community development and investment; and Indigenous Peoples and cultural heritage.
We have also implemented a Supplier Code of Conduct as part of our commitment to human rights and ongoing efforts to improve supply chain risk management. It outlines our expectations that suppliers act in accordance with our corporate commitments in their management of health and safety, labour and human rights, the environment, business conduct and ethics, and socio-economic development. In 2024, we enhanced our due diligence practices by recruiting a Senior Manager, Risk, Ethics and Compliance, at the corporate level. This role oversees our compliance management processes to ensure they are in strict alignment with relevant regulatory mandates and our internal business policies. We are also developing a Supplier Assessment Questionnaire ("SAQ") to be supported by a software management platform aimed at further identifying potential risks of modern slavery within our supply chains. These tools will be designed to promote cooperation between suppliers and our organization in mitigating potential modern slavery risks, enhance transparency in our supply chain, and pinpoint opportunities for expanded due diligence.
Our Community Investment Standard, which aligns with the IFC Performance Standards and ICMM guidance on community development, defines how we focus on sustainable contributions to the communities where we operate. The following is a summary of our community development efforts in 2024:
- Fekola Mine: Fekola operates its social investment programs through the Fekola Community Development Plan ("CDP") and Livelihood Restoration Projects. The CDP enters a new two-year cycle for 2025-2026, with community-selected projects approved by a steering committee chaired by the Sub-Prefect of Kéniéba.
Key 2024 developments included a Socioeconomic and Demographic Survey, updating the community baseline database. This enhanced resource enables Fekola's Corporate Social Responsibility team to better measure efforts and drive impactful outcomes. Community projects prioritize water and sanitation, education and health access, food security, and income generation.
Additionally, in partnership with Global Affairs Canada and Cowater, Fekola supports the FEMA Project (Femmes et Enfants des communautés Minières Artisanales). This 5-year initiative (2022-2026) focuses on improving living conditions for women and children in ASM communities within Fekola Mine's area of influence.
- Masbate Gold Project: Philippine regulations mandate that a social development expenditure equal to 1.5% of the previous year's annual operational costs is invested in support of socio-economic development in the areas impacted by a mining operation, resulting in a significant community investment budget managed separately by Filminera Resources Corporation ("Filminera") and Philippine Gold Processing & Refining Corp. ("PGPRC") in consultation with local stakeholders through an annual Social Development and Management Program (the "SDMP"). Projects are identified and implemented in coordination with multi-stakeholder committees and town councils, and support education, infrastructure, health services, and livelihood development. Following an extensive consultation process in 2023 with our eight impacted communities, the fourth iteration of the SDMP was established in 2024 and is valid until 2028.
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Otjikoto Mine: At B2Gold Namibia, a SME Development Framework has been developed, which offers business training, infrastructure support, and inclusivity measures to empower small business owners in Otjiwarongo and Otavi. Strategic partnerships progressed with Ohorongo Cement, resulting in agreements to collaborate in 2025 on projects based in the town of Otavi. In 2024, the company progressed its social transition strategy, focusing on finding alternative funding sources or concluding investment as the mine prepares to transition to post closure. Impactful initiatives developed across key sectors include:
- Water Infrastructure: Co-funded the Otavi water reticulation project in partnership with the Otavi Town Council and Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, addressing critical water needs.
- Education: Expanded the EduVision program to new schools and collaborated with Colorado State University to enhance Physics education using digital tools and innovative teaching methods.
- Youth Development: Celebrated 20 years of transformative training at the KAYEC Pre-vocational Center.
- Healthcare: Opened the Ombili Primary Healthcare Clinic ahead of schedule, exemplifying public-private partnership success.
- Economic Empowerment: Launched the SME Assistance and Development Program to support local entrepreneurs and stimulate job creation.
Goose Project: We continued enhanced Back River Project Inuit Impact & Benefit Agreement ("IIBA") implementation with the KIA throughout 2024 in preparation for operations in 2025. The Goose Project saw continued Inuit employment growth throughout the year alongside the development of strategic partnerships to deliver Inuit employee support programming focused on mental health and youth training initiatives. In addition, in 2024, the Goose Project committed approximately C$195 million in contracting opportunities with Kitikmeot Qualified Businesses. We continue to develop a "Kitikmeot Social Investment Plan," scheduled to be launched in 2025. In addition, to maximize Inuit training and employment, we have partnered with KIA to create an Inuit employment and training focused working group.
Gramalote Project: In Colombia, there has been significant progress in mining formalization, with 295 artisanal miners operating with appropriate regulatory authorizations, benefiting over 1,500 people in the surrounding communities. Community investment initiatives continue to target education, health, livelihoods, local suppliers, and arts and cultural activities in the San Roque District. The Nus Symphonic Band initiative continues to enrich the cultural lives of young people in the region, while events like the Copa Atlético Nacional Gramalote Festival in Providencia have integrated sports, resettlement, and local entrepreneurship efforts. The Gramalote Farm has emerged as a cornerstone of regional economic empowerment, producing 47 tons of feed and 50,000 eggs in 2024. Through these efforts and strong government relations, the project remains dedicated to fostering sustainable growth and creating opportunities that transform lives across our areas of influence.
Corporate Office, Vancouver, Canada**:** As a Canadian company, we are also committed to supporting community initiatives at home through our More Than Mining Fund. The fund invests in programs to support people living with challenges associated with poverty, mental health, addiction, violence, and abuse. Our fund partners with local charity organizations that deliver complex social services to the most vulnerable and at-risk people. For 2024, the Company provided financial support of approximately C$1 million to community organizations in Canada.
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Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to fostering work experiences and environments that are inclusive and accessible to individuals from diverse backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and identities and to enhancing our equitable, diverse and inclusive ("EDI") performance, guided by our EDI Workplaces Policy, as well as our Diversity Policy for Board and Management.
The EDI Workplaces Policy promotes diversity through:
- global and regional leadership that is active, committed and accountable;
- strategies and plans to identify and remove barriers;
- policies that are fair, call for equal access and treatment, and inform principled decision-making and behaviour;
- training and development that support growth, provide career advancement opportunities and build talent pipelines;
- engagement that stimulates dialogue, awareness, education and collaboration;
- change by way of actionable measures that are informed by, and assessed through, metrics; and
- grievance mechanisms with remedial action in cases of proven discrimination and harassment.
The Diversity Policy establishes a target of 30% female representation on the Board, which was achieved in January 2023, and 30% female representation in management-level positions. As at December 31, 2024, B2Gold's Board exceeds the 30% target, with 40% of the Board being women, and three of the four board subcommittees being chaired by female directors.
As articulated in these two policies, the Company is dedicated to equitable treatment of all persons, irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion and sexual orientation, as well as reasonable and safe accommodation of people with disabilities. Employment decisions are based on the inherent nature of the job and not on personal characteristics or circumstances that are unrelated to the execution of work. The Executive team has overall responsibility for our EDI initiative and performance, and the regional leadership teams are responsible for developing and delivering on the annual EDI plans for each region.
We implemented a global three-year EDI Strategy for 2020 through 2022 to lay the foundational work for a sustainable approach to EDI at each of our operations. Following our initial EDI survey completed in 2019 that provided baseline data for the three-year EDI plan, we conducted a refreshed survey in 2023 to understand where progress has been made and where opportunities for improvement continue to exist.
We remain focused on providing fair and respectful workplaces for all people and increasing the number of women through recruitment, talent development, promotion and retention. In 2024, our regional teams continued to develop practices that support EDI and deliver EDI actions, including review of policies, practices, facilities, training and engagements, and the continued collection of EDI data to increase transparency around hiring, promotions, attrition and compensation.
Priority corporate EDI initiatives for 2025 include the continued implementation of a global mentorship program and a global employee engagement survey.
We report on our environmental, social and governance risk management and performance on an annual basis in our Responsible Mining Report that is published on our website at www.b2gold.com.
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SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESERVE AND MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATES
Probable Mineral Reserves Statement
| Country | Mine, Project or Area | 100% Project Basis | Attributable Ownership Basis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonnes<br>(x1,000) | GoldGrade<br>(g/t Au) | ContainedGold<br>Ounces <br>(x 1,000) | Attributable<br>(%) | ContainedGold Ounces <br>(x 1,000) | ||
| Mali | Fekola Mine <br>(including Fekola Open Pit, Cardinal Zone, and stockpiles) | 41,000 | 1.65 | 2,170 | 80 | 1,740 |
| Fekola Regional | 13,800 | 1.97 | 880 | 90 | 790 | |
| Total Fekola Complex | 54,800 | 1.73 | 3,050 | 2,520 | ||
| Philippines | Masbate Gold Project | 61,000 | 0.73 | 1,430 | 100 | 1,430 |
| Namibia | Otjikoto Stockpiles and Wolfshag Underground | 1,300 | 3.24 | 140 | 90 | 120 |
| Canada | Goose Project | 11,300 | 6.82 | 2,480 | 100 | 2,480 |
| Total Probable Mineral Reserves (includes stockpiles) | 7,090 | ****** | 6,550 |
Notes:
Mineral Reserves are reported at the point of delivery to the process plant, and have been classified using the CIM Standards.
Fekola Complex: The Mineral Reserves have an effective date of December 31, 2024 and have been prepared by Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects, and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mineral Reserves are reported on a 100% basis. B2Gold holds an 80% attributable interest in the Fekola Mine (including the Fekola Open Pit, Cardinal Zone, and stockpiles); the remaining 20% interest in these areas is held by the State of Mali. B2Gold holds a 90% attributable interest in Fekola Regional (as defined below), and the remaining 10% interest in these areas is held by the State of Mali. Under the 2023 Mining Code, the State's initial interest in Fekola Regional is maintained at 10%, but the State may acquire up to an additional 20% interest, and a further 5% interest must be available to be acquired by a local Malian stakeholder.
Mineral Reserves for the Fekola Open Pit are based on a conventional open pit mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93%, selling costs of $231.44/oz including royalties, mining cost at surface elevation of $2.74/t mined, average processing cost of $15.34/t processed, and site general costs of $8.97/t processed. For Mineral Reserve reporting, the model with 2.5 x 5 x 2.5 m blocks (Resource model) were regularized to 5 x 20 x 10m blocks. For Indicated blocks, within the December 2022 conceptual resource pit, above a cut-off of 0.65 g/t, the large block regularized model compared to the regularized resource model is +0.3% on tonnage, -1.1% on grade and -0.8% on contained gold. No additional dilution or ore loss has been applied for final reserve reporting. Mineral Reserves are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.65 g/t Au.
Mineral Reserves for the Cardinal Zone are based on a conventional open pit mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93%, selling costs of US$231.44/oz including royalties, mining costs ranging from US$1.94/t mined for saprolite to US$2.44 for fresh rock at surface elevation, processing costs ranging from US$10.38/t processed for saprolite to US$16.09/t processed for fresh rock, and site general costs of US$0.44/t processed. For Mineral Reserve reporting, a 1.0 x 0.5 x 0.5 m rind of edge dilution was applied at each mineralization zone contact in the regularized model. For Indicated blocks, within the 2024 resource pit, at a cut-off of 0.65 g/t Au, the regularized model with edge dilution compared to the regularized model is +8.7% on tonnage, -10.6% on grade and -2.7% on contained gold. Mineral Reserves are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.65 g/t Au.
Mineral Reserves for the Anaconda Area are based on a conventional open pit mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93%-94% by rocktype, selling costs of US$322.09/oz including royalties and tolling charges, mining costs ranging from US$2.91/t mined for saprolite to US$3.41 for fresh rock at surface elevation, processing costs ranging from US$14.60/t processed for saprolite to US$20.40/t processed for fresh rock that includes haulage cost to the Fekola mill, and site general costs of US$1.89/t processed. For Mineral Reserve reporting, a 1.0 x 1.0 x 0.5 m (X, Y, Z) rind of edge dilution was applied at each mineralization zone contact in the regularized model. For Indicated blocks, within the June 2023 conceptual resource pit, at cut-offs of 0.40 g/t Au for weathered material and 0.60 g/t Au for fresh, the regularized model with edge dilution compared to the regularized (Resource) model is +2.9% on tonnage, -4.9% on grade and -2.2% on contained gold. Mineral Reserves are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.65 g/t Au for sulphides and 0.50 g/t Au for oxides.
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Mineral Reserves for the Dandoko Area are based on a conventional open pit mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 76%-94% by rocktype, selling costs of US$322.09/oz including royalties and tolling charges, mining costs ranging from US$1.95/t mined for saprolite to US$2.45 for fresh rock at surface elevation, processing costs ranging from US$15.66/t processed for saprolite to US$21.37/t processed for fresh rock that includes haulage cost to the Fekola mill, and site general costs of US$0.94/t processed. For Mineral Reserve reporting, the subcell models were regularized to a block size of 5 x 10 x 3.3333 m for SK1, and 5 x 10 x 10 m for SK2 and SK3 to account for dilution expected during mining. For Indicated plus Inferred blocks, within the February 2023 conceptual pit, at a cut-off of 0.30 g/t Au, the regularized model compared to the subcell model is +1% on tonnage, -4% on grade and -3% on contained gold. At a cut-off of 0.65 g/t Au, the regularized model compared to the subcell model is +11% on tonnage, -12% on grade and -1% on contained gold. Mineral Reserves are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.65 g/t Au for sulphides and 0.50 g/t Au for oxides.
Mineral Reserves from the Fekola Open Pit, Cardinal Zone, and stockpiles are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.65 g/t Au. Mineral Reserves from Fekola Regional are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.65 g/t Au for sulphide ore, and above a cut-off of 0.50 g/t Au for oxide ore.
Masbate Gold Project: Mineral Reserves are reported on a 100% project and attributable basis. Pursuant to the ore sales and purchase agreement between Filminera and PGPRC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, PGPRC has the right to purchase all ore from the Masbate Gold Project. We have a 40% interest in Filminera, which owns the majority of the Masbate Gold Project tenements, and the remaining 60% is owned by Zoom Mineral Holdings Inc. (“Zoom”), a Philippine shareholder company. Please see “Material Properties – Masbate Gold Project” below for a further discussion of the foregoing. Masbate Mineral Reserves have an effective date of December 31, 2024 and have been prepared by Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mineral Reserves are based on a conventional open pit mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, modeled metallurgical recovery (resulting in average LoM metallurgical recoveries by pit that range from 59–84%), and average base operating cost estimates of US$1.46–US$2.23/t mined (mining), US$14.26/t processed (processing), US$2.48–3.78/t processed (site general), and US$75.34/oz selling cost including royalties. Reserve model dilution and ore loss were applied through whole block averaging such that at a 0.45 g/t Au cut-off there is a 4.1% increase in tonnes, a 5.4% reduction in grade, and a 1.6% reduction in ounces when compared to the Mineral Resource model. Mineral Reserves are reported at an assay cut-off grade of 0.42 g/t Au.
Otjikoto Mine: Mineral Reserves are reported on a 100% project and a 90% attributable basis, the remaining 10% interest is held by EVI Mining (Proprietary) Ltd. ("EVI"), a Namibian empowerment company. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Reserve estimate is Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects. Mineral Reserves from stockpiles are based on a gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 98%, selling costs of US$73.94/oz including royalties and levies, average processing cost of US$12.97/t processed, and site general costs of US$3.95/t processed. Mineral Reserves in stockpiles are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.45 g/t Au. Mineral Reserves that will be mined by underground methods assume a modified transverse longhole stoping mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 98%, selling costs of US$73.94/oz including royalties and levies, average mining cost of US$92.26/t ore mined, average processing cost of US$12.97/t processed, general costs of US$5.87/t processed, 22% dilution, and 90% mining recovery. Mineral Reserves that will be mined by underground methods are reported above a cut-off grade of 2.11 g/t Au.
Goose Project: Mineral Reserves are reported on a 100% project and attributable basis within the Goose Claims Group. The Mineral Reserves have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the open pit and stockpile Mineral Reserve estimate is Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects. The Qualified Person for the underground Mineral Reserve estimate is Michael Meyers, P.Eng., our Manager, Projects. Mineral Reserves from open pit mine methods and stockpiles are based on a conventional open pit mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 92.5%, selling costs of US$90.00/oz including royalties and levies, average mining cost of US$4.92/t mined at surface, average processing cost of US$41.08/t processed, and site general costs of US$66.95/t processed. Reserve model dilution and ore loss were applied through whole block averaging such that at a 1.65 g/t Au cut-off, for all pits combined there is a 32% increase in tonnes, a 25% reduction in grade, and a 1% reduction in ounces when compared to the Mineral Resource model. Mineral Reserves that will be mined by open pit methods or are in stockpiles are reported above a cut-off grade of 1.65 g/t Au. Mineral Reserves that will be mined by underground methods assume longhole stoping mining methods, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 92.5%, selling costs of US$90.00/oz including royalties and levies, average mining cost of US$120.13/t ore mined, average processing cost of US$41.08/t processed, site general costs of US$66.95/t processed, dilution % variable by stoping area, and 90% mining recovery. Mineral Reserves that will be mined by underground methods are reported above a cut-off grade of 4.64 g/t Au.
Stockpiles: Mineral Reserves in stockpiled material are reported in the totals for the Fekola Mine, the Masbate Gold Project, Goose Project and the Otjikoto Mine, and were prepared by mine site personnel at each operation. Ore stockpile balances are derived from mining truck movements to individual stockpiles or detailed surveys, with grade estimated from routine grade control ("GC") methods. Stockpile cut-off grades vary by deposit, from 0.40-1.65 g/t Au.
All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.
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Indicated Mineral Resource Statement
| Country | Mine, Project or Area | 100% Project Basis | Attributable OwnershipBasis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | Gold Grade<br>(g/t Au) | ContainedGold<br>Ounces <br>(x 1,000) | Attributable<br>(%) | ContainedGold Ounces <br>(x 1,000) | ||
| Mali | Fekola Open Pit and Stockpiles | 82,770 | 1.28 | 3,400 | 80 | 2,720 |
| Cardinal Zone | 11,720 | 1.43 | 540 | 80 | 430 | |
| FNE Zone | 4,510 | 1.24 | 180 | 80 | 140 | |
| Total Fekola Mine | 99,000 | 1.29 | 4,110 | 3,290 | ||
| Anaconda Area | 56,860 | 1.11 | 2,030 | 90 | 1,830 | |
| Dandoko Area | 8,510 | 1.48 | 410 | 90 | 370 | |
| Total Fekola Regional | 65,370 | 1.16 | 2,430 | 2,190 | ||
| Total Fekola Complex | 164,370 | 1.24 | 6,550 | 5,480 | ||
| Philippines | Masbate Gold Project | 125,030 | 0.75 | 3,030 | 100 | 3,030 |
| Namibia | Otjikoto Mine | 40,180 | 0.71 | 920 | 90 | 830 |
| Colombia | Gramalote Project | 192,710 | 0.68 | 4,220 | 100 | 4,220 |
| Canada | Goose Claims Group | 15,460 | 7.16 | 3,560 | 100 | 3,560 |
| George Claims Group | 1,680 | 7.85 | 420 | 100 | 420 | |
| Total Goose Project and Back River District | 17,140 | 7.23 | 3,990 | 3,990 | ||
| Total Indicated Mineral Resources (includes stockpiles) | 539,430 | 1.08 | 18,700 | ****** | 17,540 |
Inferred Mineral Resource Statement
| Country | Mine, Project or Area | 100% Project Basis | Attributable OwnershipBasis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | GoldGrade<br>(g/t Au) | ContainedGold<br>Ounces <br>(x 1,000) | Attributable<br>(%) | ContainedGold Ounces <br>(x 1,000) | ||
| Mali | Fekola Open Pit | 7,710 | 0.97 | 240 | 80 | 190 |
| Cardinal Zone | 11,220 | 1.38 | 500 | 80 | 400 | |
| FNE Zone | 1,490 | 1.16 | 56 | 80 | 44 | |
| Total Fekola Mine | 20,430 | 1.21 | 790 | 630 | ||
| Anaconda Area | 51,490 | 1.25 | 2,070 | 90 | 1,860 | |
| Dandoko Area | 1,370 | 0.78 | 34 | 90 | 31 | |
| Total Fekola Regional | 52,860 | 1.24 | 2,100 | 1,890 | ||
| Total Fekola Complex | 73,290 | 1.23 | 2,900 | 2,530 | ||
| Philippines | Masbate Gold Project | 31,240 | 0.80 | 800 | 100 | 800 |
| Namibia | Otjikoto Mine | 7,440 | 2.84 | 680 | 90 | 610 |
| Colombia | Gramalote Project | 81,950 | 0.54 | 1,420 | 100 | 1,420 |
| Canada | Goose Claims Group | 10,060 | 7.54 | 2,440 | 100 | 2,440 |
| George Claims Group | 3,730 | 9.32 | 1,120 | 100 | 1,120 | |
| Total Goose Project and Back River District | 13,780 | 8.02 | 3,550 | 3,550 | ||
| Total Inferred Mineral Resources | 207,700 | 1.40 | 9,350 | **** | 8,910 | |
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Notes:
Mineral Resources are reported in situ or in stockpiles and have been classified using the CIM Standards. Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of those Mineral Resources that have been modified to Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Fekola Open Pit: Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and an 80% attributable basis, the remaining 20% interest is held by the State of Mali. Mineral Resources have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration. The Qualified Person for the stockpile estimate is Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects. Mineral Resource estimates are reported within a conceptual open pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93%, selling costs of US$276.48/oz including royalties, and revenue-based taxes and mining funds, and operating costs of US$2.30/t mined (mining), plus a sinking rate of US$0.035 per 10 m depth, US$0.30/t mined (site general) and US$13.95/t processed plus US$6.73/t processed (site general) and $1.38/t processed (sustaining capital). Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.40 g/t Au. Cost inputs for this Mineral Resource estimate are based on the 2012 Mining Code.
Cardinal Zone: Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and an 80% attributable basis, the remaining 20% interest is held by the State of Mali (as part of the Médinandi Exploitation Licence). Mineral Resources have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration. Mineral Resource estimates are reported within a conceptual open pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93%, selling costs of US$276.48/oz including royalties, and revenue based taxes and mining funds, and operating cost estimates of US$1.50–US$2.00/t mined (mining) plus a sinking rate of US$0.035 per 10 m depth, US$0.15/t mined (site general), US$8.50–US$14.21/t processed (processing), US$0.50/t processed (haulage), US$0.33/t processed (site general) and $1.38/t processed (sustaining capital). Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.30 g/t Au for oxide and 0.40 g/t Au for sulphide. Cost inputs for this Mineral Resource estimate are based on the 2012 Mining Code.
FNE Zone: Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and an 80% attributable basis, the remaining 20% interest is held by the State of Mali (as part of the Médinandi Exploitation Licence). Mineral Resources have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration. Mineral Resource estimates are reported within a conceptual open pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93-94%, selling costs of US$276.48/oz including royalties, and revenue based taxes and mining funds, and operating cost estimates of US$1.50-US$2.00/t mined (mining) plus a sinking rate of US$0.035 per 10 m depth, US$8.50-US$14.21/t processed (processing), US$0.50/t processed (haulage), and $1.38/t processed (sustaining capital). Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.30 g/t Au for oxide and 0.40 g/t Au for sulphide. Cost inputs for this Mineral Resource estimate are based on the 2012 Mining Code.
Anaconda Area: Mineral Resources for the Anaconda Area are reported on a 100% project and a 90% attributable basis; the remaining 10% interest is held by the State of Mali. Under the 2023 Mining Code, the State’s initial interest is maintained at 10%, but the State may acquire up to an additional 20% interest, and a further 5% interest must be available to be acquired by a local Malian stakeholder. Anaconda Area Mineral Resources have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration. Mineral Resource estimates are reported within a conceptual open pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93–94%, selling costs of US$385.26/oz including royalties and tolling charges, and revenue-based taxes and mining funds, and operating costs of US$1.80–US$2.30/t mined plus a sinking rate of US$0.035 per 10 m depth, US$0.15/t mined (site general), US$8.50–US$14.21/t processed (processing), US$4.81/t processed (haulage), US$1.13/t processed (site general), and US$1.38/t processed (sustaining capital). Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.30–0.35 g/t Au for oxide and a cut-off grade of 0.40 g/t Au for sulphide. Cost inputs for this Mineral Resource estimate are based on the 2023 Mining Code.
Dandoko Area: Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and a 90% attributable basis for the Dandoko Area; the remaining 10% interest is held by the State of Mali. Under the 2023 Mining Code, the State’s initial interest is maintained at 10%, but the State may acquire up to an additional 20% interest, and a further 5% interest must be available to be acquired by a local Malian stakeholder. Mineral Resources have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration. Mineral Resource estimates are reported within a conceptual open pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 76–94%, selling costs of US$385.26/oz including royalties and tolling charges, and revenue-based taxes and mining funds, and operating costs of US$1.80–US$2.30/t mined plus a sinking rate of US$0.035 per 10 m depth, US$0.26/t mined (site general), US$8.50–US$14.21/t processed (processing), US$5.77/t processed (haulage), US$0.57/t processed (site general), and US$1.38/t processed (sustaining capital). Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.30–0.35 g/t Au for oxide and a cut-off grade of 0.50 g/t Au for sulphide. Cost inputs for this Mineral Resource estimate are based on the 2023 Mining Code.
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Masbate Gold Project: Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and attributable basis. Pursuant to the ore sales and purchase agreement between Filminera and PGPRC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, PGPRC has the right to purchase all ore from the Masbate Gold Project. We have a 40% interest in Filminera, which owns the majority of the Masbate Gold Project tenements, and the remaining 60% is owned by Zoom, a Philippine shareholder company. Please see “Material Properties - Masbate Gold Project” below for a further discussion of the foregoing. Mineral Resources have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Michael Johnson, P.Geo., our Technical Services Manager. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resources in stockpile estimate is Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects. Mineral Resources are reported within a conceptual open pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, modeled metallurgical recovery (resulting in average metallurgical recoveries by resource area that range from 60–89%), and operating cost estimates of US$1.50–US$2.00/t mined (mining), US$14.87/t processed (processing), US$2.48–US$3.78/t processed (site general) and a selling cost of US$89.34/oz. Mineral Resources are reported at an average cut-off grade of 0.35 g/t Au.
Otjikoto Mine: Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and a 90% attributable basis, the remaining 10% interest is held by EVI, a Namibian empowerment company. Mineral Resources have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration. The Qualified Person for the stockpile estimate is Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects. Mineral Resource estimates that are amenable to open pit mining methods are reported within a conceptual open pit shell based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 98%, selling costs of US$87.02/oz including royalties and levies, and operating cost estimates of US$3.26/t mined (mining), US$13.92/t processed (processing) and US$3.96/t processed (site general). Mineral Resources that are potentially amenable to open pit mining are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t Au. Mineral Resources that are potentially amenable to underground mining are reported at cut-off grades of 1.5, 1.90 or 2.50 g/t Au and a minimum diluted thickness of 4.0 m. Underground resource reporting assumes a gold price of US$2,100/oz Au, process recovery of 98%, variable mining costs by mining method of US$75.76–140.46/t mined, processing cost of US$18.84/t processed, and a selling cost of US$87.94/oz Au produced.
Gramalote Project: Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project basis. The Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration. Mineral Resources assume an open pit mining method and are reported within conceptual pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 81.7–84% for oxide and 87.6–97.6% for sulphide, mining cost estimates of US$2.61–US$2.92/t mined (average mining cost), processing cost of US$6.02–US$6.17 for oxide, US$9.36–US$9.51/t for sulphide processed (processing) and US$2.34/t processed (site general),and selling costs of US$70.37/oz including royalties and levies.. Mineral Resources are reported at cut-off grades of 0.16 g/t Au for oxide and 0.19 g/t Au for sulphide.
Goose Project and Back River District, including the Goose and George Claims Groups: Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project basis. Mineral Resources have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration.
Goose Claims Group: Mineral Resource estimates that are amenable to open pit mining methods are reported within conceptual open pit shells based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 92.5%, selling costs of US$107.50/oz Au including royalties and levies, and operating cost estimates of US$5.99–6.63/t mined (mining), US$32.40–32.72/t processed (processing) and US$22.27/t processed (site general), pit slope angles of 45º, and an exchange rate of C$1.33:US$1.00. Mineral Resources potentially amenable to open pit mining methods are reported at an average cut-off grade of 0.9 g/t Au. Mineral Resource estimates potentially amenable to underground mining are reported at a cut-off grade of 2.2 g/t Au, assuming a gold price of US$2,100/oz Au, process recovery of 92.5%, variable mining costs by deposit of US$134.20–171.18/t mined, processing cost of US$54.72/t processed, and a selling cost of US$107.50/oz Au produced. No stope or other constraint was applied.
George Claims Group: Mineral Resources potentially amenable to open pit mining methods are reported within conceptual open pit shells based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 92.5%, selling costs of US$107.50/oz Au including royalties and levies, and operating cost estimates of US$6.56/t mined (mining), US$57.94/t processed (processing) and US$26.55/t processed (site general), pit slope angles of 43º, and an exchange rate of C$1.33:US$1.00. Mineral Resources potentially amenable to open pit mining methods are reported at an average cut-off grade of 1.4 g/t Au. Mineral Resource estimates potentially amenable to underground mining are reported at a cut-off grade of 3.1 g/t Au, assuming a gold price of US$2,100/oz Au, process recovery of 92.5%, mining costs of US$175.46/t mined, processing cost of US$84.50/t processed including haulage, and a selling cost of US$107.50/oz Au produced. No stope or other constraint was applied.
Stockpiles: Mineral Resources in stockpiled material are reported in the totals for the Fekola Mine, the Masbate Gold Project, the Goose Project and the Otjikoto Mine and were prepared by mine site personnel at each operation. Ore stockpile balances are derived from mining truck movements to individual stockpiles or detailed surveys, with grade estimated from routine GC.
All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.
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MATERIAL PROPERTIES
Fekola Complex

Certain portions of the following information are derived from and based on the technical report entitled "Fekola Gold Complex, Mali, NI 43-101 Technical Report" that has an effective date of December 31, 2023, and was prepared by Andrew Brown, P.Geo., Peter Montano, P.E., John Rajala, P.E., and Ken Jones, P.E. (the "Fekola Report"), and is based on the assumptions, qualifications and procedures set out therein. For a more detailed overview of the Fekola Complex, please refer to the Fekola Report, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Information that post-dates the Fekola Report is provided by B2Gold.
"Fekola Complex" means: the Fekola Mine and Fekola Regional; "Fekola Mine" means the Médinandi Exploitation Licence (as defined below), which hosts the Fekola Open Pit (including Fekola underground) and the Cardinal Zone; "Cardinal Zone" means the Cardinal and FMZ deposits; "Fekola Regional" means the Anaconda Area and Dandoko Area; "Anaconda Area" means the Bakolobi Permit, Menankoto Permit and Bantako Nord Permit areas; and "Dandoko Area" means the Dandoko Permit area.
Property Description, Location, and Access
Overview
The Fekola Complex is located in southwestern Mali on the border between Mali and Senegal, about 210 km south of Kayes and approximately 40 km south of the city of Kéniéba. The Fekola Mine is accessible by road from Dakar or by road or air from Bamako. From Bamako to Kéniéba, it is approximately 480 km along the Millennium Highway, then 40 km on unsealed roads to the mine site. A dedicated haul road was constructed between the Anaconda Area and the Fekola Mine in 2023, and this is currently used as the primary access road. The Bantako Nord Permit is currently accessed using an existing unpaved road via the villages of Bréma and Menankoto. The Dandoko Area is accessible via road from Bamako via the RN24 road, which services the village of Dabia. The Dandoko Area will have a dedicated haul road constructed in advance of planned operations to connect to the Fekola Mine. Both the Anaconda Area and Dandoko Area haul roads will be used to facilitate the transportation of ore and other products between the Fekola Mine and the planned operations. Access to the Fekola Mine is by air and by road. We constructed a gravel airstrip adjacent to the mine and operate regularly scheduled flights from Bamako to the mine site.
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Mineral Tenure
The Fekola Complex (including the Anaconda Area, the Dandoko Area and Médinandi Exploitation Licence) covers a total area of 337 km^2^.
The Médinandi Exploitation Licence is permit number PE 13/21, granted on February 13, 2014, following Decree 2014/0070-PM-RM, has an area of 75 km^2^ was granted, and is valid until February 13, 2044, a 30-year term. The licence is renewable by successive periods of 10 years until the exhaustion of the Mineral Reserves. The Médinandi Exploitation Licence hosts the Fekola Mine. The Médinandi Exploitation Licence was initially held in the name of Songhoi Resources SARL ("Songhoi"). In October 2014, we acquired a 90% interest in Songhoi through the acquisition of Papillon Resources Pty. Ltd. ("Papillon"), and in January 2015 we purchased the remaining 10% non-controlling interest in Songhoi held by Mani SARL.
The Menankoto Permit is 52 km^2^ in area and is located approximately 13 km to the north of the Médinandi Exploitation Licence. The Bantako Nord Permit is 10 km^2^ in area and is located north of and immediately adjacent to the Menankoto area. The Bakolobi Permit is 100 km^2^ in area and is immediately adjacent to the north and east of the Médinandi Exploitation Licence. The Anaconda Area (covering the Menankoto, Bantako, and Bakolobi Permits perimeters) will be combined into a single exploration permit to be held by B2Gold Mali Resources SARL. The period of exploration of this future combined permit will expire on December 30, 2027, renewable for one additional three-year period, i.e. until December 30, 2030.
The Dandoko Permit, which is 100 km^2^ in area, is held in the name of Africa Mining SARL, and is located approximately 25 km due east of the Médinandi Exploitation Licence. The permit was granted on August 10, 2017, and renewed on December 16, 2020, for a period of three years, and is currently undergoing the renewal process for the third and final renewal period.
Ownership and Dividends
Fekola S.A., our Malian exploitation company, was incorporated on March 17, 2016 and merged with Songhoi in December 2016 to become the holder of the Médinandi Exploitation Licence. As required under the 2012 Mining **** Code, we contributed a 10% free carried non-dilutable interest in Fekola S.A. to the State of Mali, and the State of Mali also had the option to purchase an additional 10% participating interest in Fekola S.A., which it exercised as described below. As a result, the State of Mali holds a 20% interest in Fekola S.A., and we hold the remaining 80% interest.
Subsequently, we entered into a mining convention with the State of Mali in the form required under the 2012 Mining Code that relates to, among other things, the ownership, permitting, reclamation bond requirements, development, operation, and taxation applicable to the Fekola Mine (as amended, the “Fekola Convention”). The Fekola Convention governs the procedural and economic parameters under which we operate the Fekola Mine. The Fekola Convention will expire in 2040, as provided under the 2024 MOU (see discussion on the 2024 MOU later in this sub-section). The Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources for Fekola Mine are prepared on the basis of the 2012 Mining Code and the stabilized fiscal regime included in the Fekola Convention, as amended by the 2024 MOU.
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In August 2017, we entered into certain additional agreements with the State of Mali including a shareholders agreement (the "Fekola Shareholders Agreement"), the share purchase agreement pursuant to which the State of Mali exercised its right to acquire its additional 10% ownership interest in Fekola S.A. (the "Share Purchase Agreement") and an amendment to the Fekola Convention to address and clarify certain issues under the 2012 Mining Code. In August 2018, the participation of the State of Mali in Fekola S.A. for a total of 20% was approved by the Malian Council of Ministers, through an ordinance and a decree of the Council of Ministers and signed by the President of Mali. In light of such approval, we transferred ownership of 20% of Fekola S.A. to the State of Mali. The first non-participating 10% of the State of Mali's ownership entitles it to an annual priority dividend equivalent to 10% of calendar net income of Fekola S.A. The second fully participating 10% of the State of Mali's interest used to entitle it to ordinary dividends payable on the same basis as any ordinary dividends declared and payable to us.
In 2022, the State of Mali initiated an audit of the mining sector, including a review of existing mining conventions for existing mines. In 2023, the Government of Mali undertook some major reforms in the mining sector. The 2023 Mining Code was adopted on August 29, 2023. A commission comprised of Malian Government advisors and representatives was established and tasked with negotiating certain aspects of existing mining conventions and clarifying the application of the 2023 Mining Code to both existing and new mining projects. The 2023 Mining Code introduced some other key changes including: increases in taxes and in particular the ad valorem tax (“TAV”); elimination of tax exoneration on petroleum products during the exploitation phase; introduction of new mining funds, the contributions to which are based on revenue; tolling charges; limited tax and customs regime stabilization; and separate mining conventions to be signed for the exploration and for the exploitation phases. Decrees relating to the implementation of the new mining funds were adopted on March 11, 2025. There are three funds: a local development fund calculated at a rate of 0.75% of revenue, a geological research, capacity building and training fund calculated at a rate of 0.50% of revenue, and an electricity & water infrastructure development fund calculated at a rate of 1.0% of revenue for the first five years and 2.5% of revenue thereafter. The impact of the 2023 Mining Code on the Fekola Mine is, however, limited as further explained below and provided under the 2024 MOU.
Following an extensive negotiation process, B2Gold entered into a memorandum of understanding with the State of Mali in September 2024. The 2024 MOU includes an overall framework which covers the settlement of outstanding matters arising from the State's mining audit, income tax and customs audits, as well as clarification and agreement on the application of the 2023 Mining Code to the Fekola Complex.
The material terms of the 2024 MOU include:
- The Fekola Mine (including Fekola underground) continues to be governed by the 2012 Mining Code and the Fekola Mining Convention through 2040. This includes continued stability of the ownership, income tax and customs regimes and the Company's dispute resolution rights under the Fekola Convention;
- Distribution of all retained earnings attributable to the State's 10% ordinary share interest as at the date of signature of the 2024 MOU and conversion of that interest to a 10% preferred share interest with priority dividends going forward;
- Settlement of any and all income tax assessments for the period through 2023;
- Settlement of any and all customs disputes and assessments for the period through 2023;
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- Removal of tax exoneration on petroleum products for the Fekola Mine, in exchange for a reduction by 2% of the applicable special tax on certain products (Impôt Spécial sur Certains Produits or "ISCP") rate for both the Fekola Mine and Fekola Regional;
- Acknowledgement by the State of Mali of outstanding VAT credits and agreement on a repayment schedule outlining the timing for reimbursement of outstanding VAT, together with clear guidelines on the expectation for reimbursement of VAT going forward; and
- Fekola Regional will be governed by the 2023 Mining Code.
Under the 2023 Mining Code, the State's initial interest in Fekola Regional is maintained at 10%, but the additional interest that may be acquired by the State has increased from 10% to 20%, and a further 5% interest must be available to be acquired by a local Malian stakeholder, raising the aggregate State and private Malian interests in new projects to a potential total ownership interest of 35%.
Effective January 1, 2024, and as governed by the 2024 MOU, priority dividends are now based on 20% (instead of 10% previously, as a consequence of the conversion of the 10% ordinary shares of the State into preferred shares, as provided under the 2024 MOU) of the Fekola Mine's annual net income each year and are accounted for as an income tax. Priority dividend payments are due and payable in the second quarter following the year in which the obligation was generated. B2Gold's interest in the Fekola Mine also attracts ordinary dividends based on free cash flows for which the first distribution commenced in December 2020. Ordinary dividends are now expected to be declared at least annually and will be based on free cash flows generated from the Fekola Mine's operations after funding its capital expenditures and working capital requirements. **** Ordinary dividends will be fully allocated to our account going forward based on the Company's ordinary shareholding. Ordinary dividend distributions are subject to a 10% withholding tax.
Surface Rights and No-Go Zones
The State of Mali owns all surface rights in the Fekola Mine area, and no surface rights have been registered to a private entity. Land has been designated for exclusive surface use by the Fekola Mine through the establishment of "No-Go Zones". These areas are established by formal, regulatory decision of the local administration of Kenieba. An initial "No-Go Zone" was established for the construction and operation of the Fekola Mine (the "Médinandi No-Go Zone"). The Médinandi No-Go Zone was expanded in 2021 to include land required for the mining of the Cardinal Zone. The No-Go Zone was expanded again by decision number 22-012/PCK dated February 23, 2022 to include land for the second tailings storage facility ("TSF2").
The State of Mali owns all surface rights on the Anaconda Area, and no surface rights have been registered to a private entity. A "No-Go Zone" was originally established on the Menankoto Permit **** in February 2020. This "No-Go Zone" was expanded in December 2023 to allow for the construction and operation of the Bantako Nord mine plan and Menankoto Sud mine infrastructure operations and activities. The expanded "No-Go Zone" includes land on the Bakolobi area. In March 2024, we implemented a "No-Go Zone" on the Bantako Nord Permit to commence mining activities in this area. Land in the Dandoko Area will be required to be designated for exclusive surface use by B2Gold for mining activities by formal, regulatory decision through the establishment of a "No-Go Zone". We will proceed with the application for a "No-Go Zone" as mine planning advances in the Dandoko Area. The "No-Go Zone" will avoid communities and larger artisanal small mining ("ASM") areas to the extent practicable, to minimize impacts regarding access to land and resources.
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Royalties and Taxes
A 1.65% NSR royalty on production from the Fekola Mine is payable to a local Malian company. There is a 2% NSR royalty attached to the Dandoko Permit.
The 2012 Mining Code introduced a TAV applicable to all substances, the taxable basis of which is the square-mine value of extracted substances, exported or not, minus intermediary fees and expenses. Following the adoption of the 2023 Mining Code, the tax rate for gold is based on the price of gold and varies from 3% up to 7.5% for a gold price up to $2,500/oz (to be then increased by 0.5% for each $400/oz price increase). VAT is also payable in Mali.
Under the 2012 Mining Code, for Fekola Mine, the corporate income tax rate is reduced to 25% for a 15-year period from the start of production. Under the 2023 Mining Code, for Fekola Regional, the corporate income tax rate is 30%.
Under the 2012 Mining Code, holders of an exploitation licence that produce, in one year, more than 10% of the expected quantity fixed in the annual production program approved by their shareholders' general assembly are liable for additional taxes. This consists of standard taxes and rights applying to operations and results relating to overproduction. Under the 2023 Mining Code, this additional tax is based on any overproduction compared to the production provided in the feasibility study and the tax is a royalty based on the value of the overproduction that varies between 20% and 40%.
In addition, the ISCP, rate is calculated on the basis of turnover exclusive of VAT. Under the Fekola Convention, the applicable ISCP rate for gold is 3% (to be reduced to 1%, as provided under the 2024 MOU, see above). Under the 2023 Mining Code, the appliable ISCP rate for gold is 5% for Fekola Regional (reduced to 3%, as provided under the 2024 MOU, see above). Fekola S.A. is also subject to a stamp duty of 0.6% of its revenue.
History
A number of companies have completed exploration activities in the Fekola Complex area, including Société Nationale de Recherches et d'Exploitation des Ressources Minières de Mali, Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, the Guefest Company, Western African Gold and Exploration S.A., Randgold Resources Ltd., Central African Gold plc, African Mining SARL, Compass Gold Corporation, Papillon, and Oklo.
The work programs included geological reconnaissance, interpretation of Landsat and aeromagnetic data, regional geological and regolith mapping, ground gravimetric and ground induced polarization ("IP") geophysical surveys, airborne magnetic and electromagnetic surveys, soil, rock, and termite geochemical sampling, trenching, auger, rotary air blast ("RAB"), aircore ("AC"), reverse circulation ("RC") and core drilling, Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates and updates to those estimates, environmental studies to support environmental permit applications, geotechnical and hydrological surveys and water sampling, topographic surveys, metallurgical sampling, upgrading of access roads and the accommodation camp, construction of haul roads to the Fekola plant, and mining and technical studies. There are no historical estimates that are relevant to the current Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves.
Using assumptions and allowances in the 2004 Australasian JORC Code, Papillon completed a scoping-level study on the Fekola deposit in 2012, and a pre-feasibility study in 2013; both studies indicated positive project economics. We completed the Fekola feasibility study in 2015 (the "2015 Feasibility Study"), and subsequently commenced mine development activities.
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Fekola Open Pit construction was successfully completed in late September 2017, and the mine achieved commercial production on November 30, 2017. The plant throughput was expanded from the 4 Mtpa envisaged in the 2015 Feasibility Study to a nameplate 5 Mtpa as constructed. In 2018, as a result of comminution studies, the throughput rate was expanded, with no plant modifications, to 5.5 Mtpa and the plant was confirmed to be able to process 6 Mtpa with no modifications to existing plant and equipment. The Expansion Study Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Fekola Mine completed in March 2019 indicated that a further plant expansion to 7.5 Mtpa would have positive economics and thus, plant expansion was commenced in late 2019 and was completed in September 2020.
There are known zones of artisanal mining activity within the Fekola Complex area.
Geological Setting, Mineralization, and Deposit Types
The Fekola Complex is hosted in Birimian Supergroup rocks within the eastern portion of the Paleo-Proterozoic Kédougou-Kéniéba inlier, which covers eastern Senegal and western Mali. The deposits are considered to be examples of orogenic-style gold deposits.
The Fekola and FNE deposits are hosted by a moderate to steeply west-dipping, folded sequence of marine meta-sediments of the Kofi group. The deposits have been metamorphosed to greenschist facies. Gold mineralization is preferentially hosted in very fine-grained, disseminated pyrite, within pervasively dolomitized sediments or diorite, and is focused within highly strained shear zones. Pyrite veinlets are also observed, locally folded within these same shear zones. The Fekola main mineralized shoot extends for over 3 km, along a north-northwesterly strike direction. The shallow portion of the mineralization extends towards the north to the FNE area, for a total near surface mineralized trend of over 8 km. The main Fekola shoot is 35-230 m wide, including high-grade ("HG") shoots that range in width from 8-75 m. The main low-grade shoot is 80-500 m in height, and becomes deeper towards north, including a HG ore shoot that ranges from 80-200 m in height. The mineralization dips steeply to the west, and narrows to the north, where mineralization becomes more tightly constrained above the footwall phyllite contact. The widest and highest-grade portions of the Fekola mineralization are associated with a flexure in the dip angle. The mineralization has been tested on all directions, although it may remain open at depth with the formation of sub-parallel deeper shoots. The deepest mineralized interval intersected by drilling to date is 550 m below surface.
The Cardinal Zone is hosted by southwest-striking mudstones, siltstones, and diorite intrusions with bedding dipping 35-50° to the west. The host stratigraphy is intruded by late feldspar-porphyritic dykes. Mineralization is hosted in a series of west-dipping, brittle-ductile shear zones that are moderately to strongly discordant to lithology contacts. A halo of pervasive silicification locally accompanies veins in the mineralized portion of the shear zone. Gold is spatially associated with quartz-carbonate veins and is strongly associated with coarse grained pyrite (± pyrrhotite in mudstone host) in the wallrock to veins. Rare visible gold has been noted within the quartz-carbonate veins. The Cardinal Zone comprises two principal zones of mineralization: Cardinal and FMZ, the latter being a reference to the structure that has historically been referred to as Fadougou Main Zone. To date, drilling has defined mineralized structures over 3.8 km along strike, with the northern portion of the Cardinal Zone, passing within 500 m of the Fekola Open Pit. The horizontal footprint is up to 400 m wide, and mineralization has been intersected by drilling down to 360 m below surface. The Cardinal mineralization includes multiple 2-30 m wide anastomosing structures, collectively forming a 20-50 m wide zone.
The Anaconda Area is hosted by folded meta-sediments and mafic intrusions of the Kofi Series. The meta-sedimentary sequence is comprised of phyllite, sandstone, siltstone, local mass flow breccia and marls and is intruded by various diorite dykes and sills. Tectonic brecciation of lithologic units and pervasive albitization are common. Brecciation and albitization are concentrated within and along shear zones in the Anaconda Area, as the result of a protracted deformation history; the overlying regolith, including laterite (duricrust), saprolite and saprock, ranges in thickness from several metres, to locally over 100 m thick and conceals fresh rock across the entire Anaconda area. Mineralized zones within saprolite and saprock can locally be traced into bedrock. The Anaconda, Mamba, Boomslang and Cobra deposits have sulfide mineralization potential at depth. Gold mineralization is associated with pyrite, which can occur in zones of network replacement sulphide, and as discrete quartz-carbonate-pyrite and brecciated veins.
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Anaconda is the westernmost of the deposits comprising the Anaconda Area. The mineralized footprint in the saprolite horizon extends for 6.5 km along strike and is up to 1 km wide in the central portion of the deposit, narrowing at both ends. The saprolite thickness varies from 2 m to >140 m, averaging 37 m vertical thickness. Mineralization has been identified down to >200m below surface within discontinuous lenses but is commonly restricted to a shallower 100-150 m depth. The mineralized low-grade lenses vary from 10-100 m wide, commonly exhibiting 50 m wide stacked horizons. The Mamba deposit is located approximately 1.2 km northeast of the Anaconda deposit and extends over 3.8 km along strike, including a northeasterly-trending splay. The Mamba Main mineralization footprint is about 400 m wide, not including the eastern and northeastern splays which are 300 m towards the east. The deposit includes multiple south-plunging, steep westerly dipping ore shoots that are 10-80 m wide, locally widening to as much as 100 m in the saprolite. The Cobra deposit is situated approximately 2.6 km southeast of Mamba. It has been defined over a south-southwesterly strike length of 5.4 km, and a width of about 250 m, including a western sub-parallel mineralized trend. The main strand of the Cobra deposit is a planar and continuous, sub-vertical to west dipping structure, 4-30 m wide, drilled down to a depth of 350 m below surface. Both oxide- and sulphide-related gold mineralization is present at Cobra, with mineralized saprolite extending to a depth of approximately 130 m below surface, with 45 m average vertical thickness. The Taipan deposit is located at the southernmost end of Cobra, on a north-northwest trending structure that may crosscut that which hosts the Cobra deposit. Taipan has been defined over a strike length of approximately 6.4 km, bending to a more north-south trend in the northern 2.3 km of the deposit's known extent. Taipan has a horizontal footprint maximum of about 250 m, including the main structure, which is roughly tabular, dips to the west-southwest, and ranges from 5-35 m in width. It has been intersected by drilling to a depth of 220 m below surface.
The Dandoko Area is underlain by sedimentary and to a lesser extent, igneous rocks of the Kofi Series, though much less deformed and altered than those underlying the Fekola Mine and Anaconda Area. The Dandoko Area comprises three discrete mineralized structures, which host the Seko 1, 2, and 3 deposits. The Seko deposits are underlain by a turbidite succession and platform carbonate rocks. A post-mineral dolerite sill intrudes the sedimentary package, as does a granite intrusive body. Except for the dolerite sill, most rock types exhibit overprinting breccia textures. The breccias are interpreted to be a significant control on the distribution of gold mineralization in the bedrock and its weathered equivalents. The Seko deposits have an extensive and well-developed lateritic regolith profile, with weathering observed to over 200 m below surface in certain locations. Gold mineralization is both sulphide- and oxide-related and is localized in a moderately east-dipping zone at Seko 1 and in subvertical zones at Seko 2 and Seko 3. Each of the zones strikes to the northeast. The Seko 1 deposit is about 1.4 km long, and ranges in thickness from 15-35 m, averaging 25 m. Seko 1 has been drill-tested to about 350 m vertical depth. The overall mineralization strike length at the Seko 2 deposit is about 900 m, of which approximately 450 m of strike is well mineralized and forms the basis of the Mineral Resource estimate for this deposit. The mineralization thicknesses range from 40-80 m, averaging 60 m. Seko 2 has been drill-tested to about 320 m vertical depth. The overall mineralization strike length at the Seko 3 deposit is about 1.1 km, of which approximately 700 m of strike is well mineralized and forms the basis of the Mineral Resource estimate for this deposit. The mineralization thicknesses range from 20-40 m, averaging 30 m. Seko 3 has been drill-tested to about 260 m vertical depth.
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Exploration
Exploration activities include: a light detection and ranging survey; regolith and geological mapping; geochemical soil, termite mound, rock chip and grab sampling; ground geophysical surveys (IP, gradient, resistivity, pole-dipole, gravimetric, mise-a-la-masse); airborne geophysical surveys (aeromagnetic, electromagnetic ("EM")); and pitting and trenching.
Geochemical sampling was used as a first-pass tool to define areas of gold anomalism. Geophysical data have been used to develop the broad lithological and structural framework for the Fekola Complex.
Our current and planned exploration activities are discussed under the heading "Production, Development, and Exploration" below*.*
Drilling
Drilling has been completed in support of exploration evaluations, Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates, mine planning, geotechnical and hydrogeological evaluations, and infrastructure site sterilization (condemnation drilling).
Drilling includes auger, RAB, AC, RC, and core drilling methods. Drilling completed as at December 31, 2024 on the Fekola Complex includes 11,588 auger drill holes (126,049 m), 1,166 RAB drill holes (24,064 m), 7,893 AC drill holes (384,853 m), 5,311 RC drill holes (632,693 m), 538 drill holes pre-collared with RC collar and completed with a core tail ("RC-core") (156,215 m), and 1,217 core drill holes (307,067). These totals include 114 water holes (15,031 m), 173 geotechnical holes (18,386 m) and 1,166 condemnation holes (63,009 m). Relevant RC grade control ("RC-GC") drilling completed by the Fekola operations in the Fekola Mine includes 1,179 drill holes (68,043m).
Drilling and assaying that supports the Mineral Resource estimate for the Fekola deposit was completed from February 8, 2008 to June 23, 2022. Within the immediate area of the Mineral Resource estimate, there are a total of 1,275 drill holes (285,533.98 m) including 307 core holes (104,589 m), 742 RC holes (98,019 m), 201 RC core holes (78,383 m), and 25 RC-GC drill holes (4,542 m).
Drilling and assaying that supports the Mineral Resource estimate for the Cardinal Zone was completed from January 24, 2007 to December 31, 2024. Within the immediate area of the Mineral Resource estimate, there are a total of 1,131 drill holes (141,511.8 m) including 161 core holes (42,811.9 m), 422 RC holes (51,274.5 m), 37 RC-core holes (11,470.4 m) and 511 RC-GC drill holes (35,955 m).
Drilling and assaying that supports the Mineral Resource estimate for the FNE Zone was completed from February 12, 2008 to December 11, 2024. Within the immediate area of the Mineral Resource estimate, there are a total of 1,203 drill holes (100,130.2 m) including 43 core holes (16,733.5 m), 15 RC-core holes (6,010.7 m), 15 aircore holes (3,930.0 m), 387 RC holes (45,910.0 m), and 643 RC-GC holes (27,546.0 m).
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The Mineral Resource estimate drill hole database cut-off date for the Anaconda Area, and inclusive of drilling on the Bantako Nord Permit, Menankoto Permit, and Bakolobi Permit is May 10, 2023. Drilling and assaying that supports the Mineral Resource estimate includes 3,714 AC drill holes (156,625 m), 2,387 RC holes (287,770 m), 121 RC-core holes (29,589 m), and 447 core holes (105,950 m), for a total of 6,669 drill holes (579,933 m of drilling).
The Mineral Resource estimate drill hole database cut-off date for the Dandoko Area is January 27, 2023. Drilling and assaying that supports the Mineral Resource estimate includes 802 aircore drill holes (58,115 m), 352 RC holes (41,269 m), 102 RC pre-collared and completed with core holes (22,571 m), and 42 core holes (5,426 m), for a total of 1,298 drill holes (127,381 m of drilling).
Drill core is photographed, logged and recoveries are recorded. For RC and AC samples, moisture content and sample weight are recorded to ensure adherence to optimum drill recovery practices. Drill hole collar locations are surveyed using global positioning system ("GPS") instruments. Down-hole surveys are performed at regular down-hole intervals using Reflex instrumentation. Most of the drill holes at the Fekola Mine are drilled at -50º to -55º to the east (N90 E) which intersects the main mineralized zone at a high angle. In general, true thicknesses are 70% to 80% of the sampled length. Anaconda Area drilling is mostly drilled at -60º (to the east) to -90º which intersects higher-grade mineralization at a high angle. In general, true thicknesses are 80-100% of the sampled length. Drilling in the Dandoko Area is generally oriented at -55º (to the west) to -270º, which intersects higher grade mineralization at a high angle. In general, true thicknesses are 90-100% of the sampled length. Additionally, a minor proportion of drilling was oriented at -55º (to the northwest) to 315 within Seko 1, combined with several reverse 'scissor' drill holes, oriented at -55º (to the west) to -270º aimed to improve the geological understanding of the Seko mineralization.
Current and planned drilling is summarized under the heading "Production, Development, and Exploration" below.
Sampling, Analysis, and Data Verification
RC and AC samples are collected at 1 m intervals in plastic bags using a cyclone, and split using a cone or riffle splitter and a three-tier split. Core is typically sampled on 1 m intervals with breaks at lithological contacts and alteration boundaries. Following cutting with a diamond saw, core samples are organized into shipments. The primary laboratory takes possession of the samples at site and transports them to the laboratory for preparation and analysis.
The primary assay laboratories for exploration samples were the SGS laboratories in Kayes ("SGS Kayes") and Bamako, Mali, ("SGS Bamako") and the Fekola Mine laboratory. Samples from RC drilling completed by the Fekola Mine geology department are assayed at the Fekola Mine laboratory. SGS Kayes and SGS Bamako are independent of B2Gold. SGS advised that SGS Bamako is currently ISO 17025 accredited for selected analytical techniques. The Fekola Mine laboratory is not independent and does not hold accreditations.
SGS Morila in southern Mali has been used as a secondary laboratory for Fekola Mine and Anaconda Area samples. Primary samples were sent there periodically, and SGS Morila has also occasionally been used for umpire (check) sampling. SGS Morila is independent of B2Gold. The SGS Kayes and SGS Morila laboratories operated a quality system that SGS considered to be in line with ISO 17025 requirements.
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Bureau Veritas in Abidjan, Ivory Coast ("Bureau Veritas Abidjan") has been used as an umpire laboratory for SGS Bamako analyses and SGS Bamako has been used as an umpire laboratory for Bureau Veritas Abidjan and Fekola Mine laboratory analyses. The check laboratory for the Dandoko Permit was Bureau Veritas Abidjan. Bureau Veritas is accredited by the under ISO/IEC17025 for selected analytical techniques and is independent of B2Gold.
The general sample preparation and analytical process is similar for all laboratories. Samples are dried, crushed to 75% passing 2 millimetres ("mm"), and pulverized to 85% passing 75 micrometers ("µm"). Gold analysis consists of a 50 g **** fire assay with an atomic absorption spectrometer ("AAS") finish. Overlimit gold assays were re-analyzed using a gravimetric finish.
Density determinations are performed by site personnel on dried whole core samples, using the water displacement method.
Quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") measures include regular insertion of certified reference materials or standards, field duplicate, and blank materials prior to submission of samples to the laboratory to monitor laboratory accuracy, precision, and sample sequencing. Data imported into the project database is subject to validation, which includes checks on surveys, collar coordinates, lithology data and assay data. The checks are appropriate and consistent with industry norms.
Sample security measures include moving AC, RC, and core samples from the drill site to the sample yard at the end of each drill shift and tracking sample shipments using industry-standard procedures. We are of the opinion that the core storage is secure because the sample yards are remote, access is strictly controlled, and a Company representative has always been present in the camps.
No material issues with the project database including sampling protocols, flowsheets, check analysis program or data storage have been identified to date from the checks performed. The project database is acceptable for use in Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimation and can be used to support mine planning.
Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing
Metallurgical test work in support of Fekola plant design was completed as part of the 2015 Feasibility Study primarily by SGS Canada in Lakefield, Ontario ("SGS Lakefield"), with support from Jenike & Johanson, Metso, SGS Beckley, Dawson Metallurgical Laboratory, Process Research Ortech, and FLSmidth. Tests on material from Fekola Regional were completed at SGS Lakefield.
Test work on the Fekola deposit included mineralogy, comminution, gravity concentration, grind/recovery, preg-robbing assessment, whole ore leach optimisation, whole ore cyanidation of variability samples at optimized leach conditions, bulk cyanidation, cyanide destruction, oxygen uptake, carbon modelling, slurry rheology, thickening and flocculation, and materials handling. Tests on mineralization from Fekola Regional focused on the amenability of the mineralization to treatment through the Fekola plant using current Fekola conditions.
Based on analysis of results from the 2015 Feasibility Study, the following conclusions can be drawn from the metallurgical and comminution test work programs on the Fekola Mine mineralization:
- The Fekola deposit is classified as hard to very hard competency with above average grinding energy requirements and is moderate to highly abrasive. The ore is amenable to primary crushing followed by a semi-autogenous grind ("SAG") mill and ball mill grinding circuit with pebble crushing ("SABC").
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- Fekola ore is predominantly free milling, not preg robbing and is amenable to gold extraction by conventional cyanidation.
- A gravity separation circuit is not warranted for the Fekola deposit. Instead, a carbon column adsorption circuit was included to recover dissolved gold leached in the grinding circuit to facilitate early recovery of gold, particularly during high gold head grade periods.
- The optimum leaching conditions identified are 24-hour cyanidation with 350 parts per million ("ppm") sodium cyanide ("NaCN"), initial lead nitrate addition of 100 g/t, pH 10.3-10.5, dissolved oxygen levels of approximately 15 ppm and a pulp density of 45% solids. The addition of lead nitrate and dissolved oxygen levels of 15 ppm is found to be beneficial in leach kinetics and overall recovery. Anticipated lime and cyanide addition rates are moderate.
- The ore typically yields good recoveries (87% to 97%). Test work results show a logarithmic relationship between the measured gold head grade and resulting gold extraction under optimised leach conditions at a grind size of 75 µm. A grind optimisation study was updated to evaluate the effect of grind size on project economics. The evaluation compared gold revenue against operating and capital expenditure for the grind sizes considered. A grind size (P80) of 75 µm is considered to be the economic optimum for the Fekola Mine.
- Based on the absence of any preg robbing characteristics and very good adsorption properties, a whole ore leach/carbon-in-pulp ("CIP") circuit has been selected for the Fekola process flowsheet. There were no deleterious elements in any of the Fekola samples evaluated in the metallurgical test program which negatively affect gold recovery.
- The cyanidation tailings responded well to cyanide destruction treatment using the SO2/air process.
In 2018, similar test work to that conducted for the 2015 Feasibility Study was completed on selected Fekola North Extension drill core samples at SGS Lakefield. Fekola North Extension test work showed the existing Fekola comminution and leaching circuits are suitable for the Fekola North Extension area mineralization. Based on the metallurgical test work, at a gold head grade of 2.50 g/t Au, the estimated gold extraction for the Fekola deposit is 93.7%. After predicting the gold residue grade for a gold head grade of 2.50 g/t Au, the estimated gold extraction is 93.6% for the Fekola North Extension material.
In 2020, three master composites and five variability samples from the Cardinal deposit were submitted to SGS Lakefield for metallurgical testing confirming the samples were amenable to the Fekola plant operating conditions. The average gold extraction under these conditions was approximately 93%. The average cyanide and lime consumptions were 0.50 kg/t NaCN and 0.89 kg/t calcium oxide. The results were in line with previous test work and plant results.
The amenability of mineralization in the Fekola Deeps area to the Fekola whole ore cyanidation flowsheet was tested during 2022. The results from the tests showed that an average gold extraction of approximately 91% was achievable.
SGS Lakefield performed leach optimization and recovery test work on mineralization from the Anaconda Area. These tests indicate an average gold recovery of 95.3% can be achieved using conventional leach/CIP technology. SO2/air cyanide destruction was also evaluated in the Anaconda metallurgical test program. In August 2018, three composite samples from the Anaconda Area, totaling about 450 kilograms ("kg") each, were collected from RC sample splitter rejects for agglomeration testing at McClelland Laboratories, Nevada, USA ("McClelland"). The test work at McClelland showed that very high cement additions, in the range of 15-20 kg per tonne ("kg/t"), were required for optimum agglomeration in two of the three samples. Agglomerated column testing on a master composite prepared from the original three composites produced a gold recovery of 92.2% after a 62-day leach/rinse cycle. Results of additional testing on the Anaconda saprolite composite samples at SGS Lakefield in 2019 indicated gold recoveries of approximately 90% to 96% were achievable using conventional carbon-in-leach ("CIL") processing and a 12-hour residence time. Overall, an average 94% recovery is forecast from the saprolite material, and an average 93% recovery from the lateritic material.
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Early-stage 24-hour bottle roll cyanidation tests were performed by Bureau Veritas Abidjan, on behalf of Oklo, on samples from Seko 1, 2 and 3 in 2018. Gold recoveries averaged 98.2% in oxide mineralization. Initial gravity separation, bond abrasion and mill work indices, leach kinetics, basic grind size variability, and initial flotation test work was completed by ALS Metallurgy in Perth, Australia, on three composite samples collected from Seko 2 in 2020. Cyanide leach gold recoveries were approximately 94% for oxide. Ball mill work indices from the 2020 preliminary test program ranged from 10.2-16.0 kilowatt hours per tonne, which is comparable to other gold operations in the region. Abrasion indices were moderate. Preliminary low total and organic carbon results indicated that preg-robbing should not be an issue in the oxide zone mineralisation. We completed a drill program to provide samples for a metallurgical test work program in late 2022. Test work was completed at SGS Lakefield, and included comminution, and head grades, mineralogy, whole ore cyanidation, carbon adsorption, lateritic material testing, oxygen uptake, and rheology tests. The comminution tests showed the material tested to be in the soft to very soft range. Fresh samples were characterized as medium with respect to resistance to impact breakage and abrasion index testing. Gold extractions for the saprolite samples that contained no sulphur ranged from ~88% to ~97% and averaged ~94%. Sulphide samples were found to return lower gold extractions. An average 94% recovery in the saprolite material, and an average 76% recovery in the fresh material is forecast for the Seko deposit material.
There are no known deleterious elements that incur penalties in the doré. There are also no known elements in the material to be treated that may cause plant processing issues.
Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates
Mineral Resources
Fekola Open Pit
The Mineral Resource estimate for the Fekola Open Pit was built using structural, pyrite, mineralization domains, regolith, and lithological interpretations. Assays were capped by mineralization domain with capping levels ranging from 1.5-30 g/t Au. Capping was applied prior to compositing to 2 m lengths. Average density by mineralization domain, overburden type, and weathering domain were used for tonnage estimates.
Ordinary kriged ("OK") and nearest neighbor ("NN") grades were estimated into parent-sized blocks, with Mineral Resources reported from the OK estimate. Block grade estimates were validated by visual comparison to composite grades, comparison of global block statistics to the NN model, swath plots to check for local bias, and reconciliation to GC models.
Indicated Mineral Resource classification is supported by an approximate drill spacing of 55 x 55 m and Inferred Mineral Resource classification is supported by an approximate drill spacing of 100 x 100 m. Stockpiles are classified as Indicated Mineral Resources.
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Mineral Resources are confined within pit shells that used a gold price of $2,100/oz. Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.40 g/t Au for the Fekola mine.
Cardinal Zone
Mineralization, weathering and ASM depletion models were built as 3D solids or surfaces for the Cardinal/FMZ mineral resource model. Assays were capped by mineralization domain, or groups of domains with capping levels ranging from 2-35g/t Au. Some domains were not capped. Capping was applied prior to compositing to 2 m lengths. OK, inverse distance weighting to the third power ("ID3") and NN grades were estimated into parent-sized blocks, with Mineral Resources reported from the OK estimate. Density was assigned to the block model based on averages by regolith type.
Nominal targeted drill hole spacing for classification of Indicated Mineral Resources is 40 x 40 m, and 80 x 80 m for Inferred Mineral Resources.
The block model estimates were validated by visual comparison to composite grades, comparison of global block statistics to declustered composites, swath plots by domain and comparison to change of support distributions.
Mineral Resources are confined within pit shells that used a gold price of $2,100/oz. Mineral Resources are reported above cut-off grades of 0.30 g/t Au for saprolite, laterite and saprock, and 0.40 g/t Au for sulphide.
FNE Zone
Mineralization, weathering and ASM depletion models were built as 3D solids or surfaces for the FNE mineral resource model. Assays were capped by mineralization domain, or groups of domains with capping levels ranging from 1-25 g/t Au. Some domains were not capped. Capping was applied prior to compositing to 2 m lengths. ID3 and NN grades were estimated into parent-sized blocks, with Mineral Resources reported from the ID3 estimate. Density was assigned to the block model based on averages by regolith.
Nominal targeted drill hole spacing for classification of Indicated Mineral Resources is 40 x 40 m, and 80 x 80 m for Inferred Mineral Resources.
The block model estimates were validated by visual comparison to composite grades, comparison of global block statistics to declustered composites, swath plots by domain and comparison to change of support distributions.
Mineral Resources are confined within pit shells that used a gold price of $2,100/oz. Mineral Resources are reported above cut-off grades of 0.30 g/t Au for saprolite, laterite and saprock, and 0.40 g/t Au for sulphide.
Anaconda Area
The Mineral Resource estimate is based on mineralization and weathering domains modeled in three-dimensions with mineralization domains used to control estimation of gold grades. Laterite, saprolite and saprock were modeled using logged weathering and lithology codes. Mineralization within the weathered profile is interpreted as an extension to underlying sulphide mineralization. The main controls on sulphide mineralization are west-dipping shear zones and attendant lithological and alteration products.
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Assays were capped by grade shell, with capping values ranging from 1-29 g/t Au. Capping was applied prior to compositing to 2 m intervals. Gold grades were estimated into parent blocks with OK, inverse distance weighting to the second power ("ID2") and NN methods using 2 m capped composites. Mineral Resources are reported from the OK estimates for Adder-Anaconda, Mamba and Boomslang. For Cascabel, Viper, Cobra and Taipan the ID2 estimates were used. Density was assigned to the block model based on weathering domain.
Confidence classifications for Indicated Mineral Resources within saprolite and saprock material required a nominal 40 x 40 m drill spacing with an added criterion requiring an RC or diamond drill hole within 80 x 80 m to provide higher confidence in defining regolith boundaries. Inferred Mineral Resources were classified if the drill spacing was 80 x 80 m in sulphide material.
The block model estimates were validated by visual comparison to composite grades, comparison of global block statistics to declustered composite distributions and swath plots by domain.
Mineral Resources are confined within pit shells that used a gold price of $2,100/oz. Mineral Resources are reported above cut-off grades of 0.30 g/t Au for saprolite, 0.35 g/t Au for saprock and laterite and 0.4 g/t Au for sulphide.
Dandoko Area
The Mineral Resource estimate is based on mineralization and weathering domains modeled in three-dimensions with mineralization domains used to control estimation of gold grades. Laterite, upper and lower saprolites and saprock were modeled using logged weathering and lithology codes. Mineralization within the weathered profile is interpreted as an extension to underlying sulphide mineralization. Shallow dipping non-mineralized dolerite sills (dikes) were modelled as cross-cutting mineralization.
Assays were capped by mineralization domain, with caps ranging from 2.5-60 g/t Au, then composited to 2 m intervals. Grades were estimated into the block models using ID2 with searches dynamically controlled along main mineralization zone directions. Density was assigned to the block model based on averages by weathering domain.
The block model estimates were validated by visual comparison to composite grades, comparison of global block statistics to declustered composites and swath plots by domain.
Nominal targeted drill hole spacing for classification of Indicated Mineral Resources is 20 x 40 m, and 80 x 80 m for Inferred Mineral Resources.
Mineral Resources are confined within pit shells that used a gold price of $2,100/oz. Mineral Resources are reported above cut-off grades of 0.30 g/t Au for saprolite, 0.4 g/t Au for laterite and saprock, and 0.6 g/t Au for sulphide.
Mineral Resource Estimate
Mineral Resource estimates for the Fekola Complex are reported from our Mineral Resource models within economically constrained pit shells. The Mineral Resource estimates for the Fekola Open Pit and Cardinal Zone account for mining depletion as at December 31, 2024 and have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Mineral Resource estimates for Fekola Regional have an effective date of December 31, 2024.
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Fekola Complex Indicated Mineral Resources Statement
| Mine or Area | 100% Project Basis | Attributable Ownership Basis | |||
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| Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | GoldGrade<br>(g/t Au) | Contained Gold<br>Ounces<br>(x 1,000) | Attributable<br>(%) | Contained Gold Ounces<br>(x 1,000) | |
| Fekola Open Pit | 68,710 | 1.40 | 3,100 | 80 | 2,480 |
| Fekola Stockpiles | 14,060 | 0.66 | 300 | 80 | 240 |
| Cardinal Zone | 11,720 | 1.43 | 540 | 80 | 430 |
| FNE Zone | 4,510 | 1.24 | 180 | 80 | 140 |
| Total Fekola Mine | 99,000 | 1.29 | 4,110 | 3,290 | |
| Anaconda Area | 56,860 | 1.11 | 2,030 | 90 | 1,830 |
| Dandoko Area | 8,510 | 1.48 | 410 | 90 | 370 |
| Total Fekola Regional | 65,370 | 1.16 | 2,430 | 2,190 | |
| Total Indicated Mineral Resources | 164,370 | 1.24 | 6,550 | ****** | 5,480 |
Fekola Complex Inferred Mineral Resources Statement
| Mine or Area | 100% Project Basis | Attributable Ownership Basis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | GoldGrade<br>(g/t Au) | ContainedGold<br>Ounces<br>(x 1,000) | Attributable<br>(%) | Contained GoldOunces<br>(x 1,000) | |
| Fekola Open Pit | 7,710 | 0.97 | 240 | 80 | 190 |
| Cardinal Zone | 11,220 | 1.38 | 500 | 80 | 400 |
| FNE Zone | 1,490 | 1.16 | 56 | 80 | 44 |
| Total Fekola Mine | 20,430 | 1.21 | 790 | 630 | |
| Anaconda Area | 51,490 | 1.25 | 2,070 | 90 | 1,860 |
| Dandoko Area | 1,370 | 0.78 | 34 | 90 | 31 |
| Total Fekola Regional | 52,860 | 1.24 | 2,100 | 1,890 | |
| Total Inferred Mineral Resources | 73,290 | 1.23 | 2,900 | ****** | 2,530 |
Notes:
Mineral Resources have been classified using the CIM Standards. Mineral Resources are reported in situ or in stockpiles, inclusive of those Mineral Resources that have been modified to Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Mineral Resources for the Fekola Mine are reported on a 100% project and an 80% attributable basis, the remaining 20% interest is held by the State of Mali. Mineral Resources for Fekola Regional are reported on a 100% project and a 90% attributable basis; the remaining 10% interest is held by the State of Mali. With respect to Fekola Regional, under the 2023 Mining Code, the State's interest is maintained at 10%, but the State may acquire up to an additional 20% **** interest, and a further 5% interest must be available to be acquired by a local Malian stakeholder.
The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration.
The Qualified Person for the stockpile estimate is Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects.
The Mineral Resource estimates for the Fekola Mine account for mining depletion as at December 31, 2024 and have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Mineral Resource estimates for Fekola Regional have an effective date of December 31, 2024.
The Mineral Resource estimates for the Fekola Complex assume an open pit mining method.
Fekola Open Pit: Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and an 80% attributable basis, the remaining 20% interest is held by the State of Mali. Mineral Resources have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration. The Qualified Person for the stockpile estimate is Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects. Mineral Resource estimates are reported within a conceptual open pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93%, selling costs of US$276.48/oz including royalties, and revenue-based taxes and mining funds, and operating costs of US$2.30/t mined (mining), plus a sinking rate of US$0.035 per 10 m depth, US$0.30/t mined (site general) and US$13.95/t processed plus US$6.73/t processed (site general) and $1.38/t processed (sustaining capital) . Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.40 g/t Au. Cost inputs for this Mineral Resource estimate are based on the 2012 Mining Code.
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Cardinal Zone: Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and an 80% attributable basis, the remaining 20% interest is held by the State of Mali (as part of the Médinandi Exploitation Licence). Mineral Resources have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration. Mineral Resource estimates are reported within a conceptual open pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93%, selling costs of US$276.48/oz including royalties, and revenue-based taxes and mining funds, and operating cost estimates of US$1.50–US$2.00/t mined (mining) plus a sinking rate of US$0.035 per 10 m depth, US$0.15/t mined (site general), US$8.50–US$14.21/t processed (processing), US$0.50/t processed (haulage), US$0.33/t processed (site general) and $1.38/t processed (sustaining capital). Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.30 g/t Au for oxide and 0.40 g/t Au for sulphide. Cost inputs for this Mineral Resource estimate are based on the 2012 Mining Code.
FNE Zone: Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and an 80% attributable basis, the remaining 20% interest is held by the State of Mali (as part of the Médinandi Exploitation Licence). Mineral Resources have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration. Mineral Resource estimates are reported within a conceptual open pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93-94%, selling costs of US$276.48/oz including royalties, and revenue-based taxes and mining funds, and operating cost estimates of US$1.50-US$2.00/t mined (mining) plus a sinking rate of US$0.035 per 10 m depth, US$8.50-US$14.21/t processed (processing), US$0.50/t processed (haulage), and $1.38/t processed (sustaining capital). Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.30 g/t Au for oxide and 0.40 g/t Au for sulphide. Cost inputs for this Mineral Resource estimate are based on the 2012 Mining Code.
Anaconda Area: Mineral Resources for the Anaconda Area are reported on a 100% project and a 90% attributable basis; the remaining 10% interest is held by the State of Mali. Under the 2023 Mining Code, the State’s initial interest is maintained at 10%, but the State may acquire up to an additional 20% interest, and a further 5% interest must be available to be acquired by a local Malian stakeholder. Anaconda Area Mineral Resources have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration. Mineral Resource estimates are reported within a conceptual open pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93–94%, selling costs of US$385.26/oz including royalties and tolling charges, and revenue-based taxes and mining funds, and operating costs of US$1.80–US$2.30/t mined plus a sinking rate of US$0.035 per 10 m depth, US$0.15/t mined (site general), US$8.50–US$14.21/t processed (processing), US$4.81/t processed (haulage), US$1.13/t processed (site general), and US$1.38/t processed (sustaining capital). Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.30–0.35 g/t Au for oxide and a cut-off grade of 0.40 g/t Au for sulphide. Cost inputs for this Mineral Resource estimate are based on the 2023 Mining Code.
Dandoko Area: Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and a 90% attributable basis for the Dandoko Area; the remaining 10% interest is held by the State of Mali. Under the 2023 Mining Code, the State’s initial interest is maintained at 10%, but the State may acquire up to an additional 20% interest, and a further 5% interest must be available to be acquired by a local Malian stakeholder. Mineral Resources have an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration. Mineral Resource estimates are reported within a conceptual open pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 76–94%, selling costs of US$385.26/oz including royalties and tolling charges, and revenue-based taxes and mining funds, and operating costs of US$1.80–US$2.30/t mined plus a sinking rate of US$0.035 per 10 m depth, US$0.26/t mined (site general), US$8.50–US$14.21/t processed (processing), US$5.77/t processed (haulage), US$0.57/t processed (site general), and US$1.38/t processed (sustaining capital). Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.30–0.35 g/t Au for oxide and a cut-off grade of 0.50 g/t Au for sulphide. Cost inputs for this Mineral Resource estimate are based on the 2023 Mining Code.
Mineral Resources in stockpiled material are reported in the totals for the Fekola Mine, and were prepared by mine site personnel at the operation. Ore stockpile balances are derived from mining truck movements to individual stockpiles or detailed surveys, with grade estimated from routine GC.
All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.
Factors that may affect the Mineral Resource estimates include changes to: metal price assumptions; assumptions used to generate the gold cut-off grade; local interpretations of mineralization geometry and continuity of mineralized zones; geological and mineralization shape and geological and grade continuity assumptions; density and domain assignments; geotechnical, mining and metallurgical recovery assumptions; the input and design parameter assumptions that pertain to the conceptual pit constraining the estimates; and our assumptions as to the continued ability to access the site, retain mineral and surface rights titles, and maintain the social licence to operate.
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Mineral Reserves
Indicated Mineral Resources at the Fekola Open Pit were converted to Probable Mineral Reserves based on the August 2022 resource model, Indicated Mineral Resources at the Cardinal Zone were converted to Probable Mineral Reserves based on the June 2024 resource model, Indicated Mineral Resources from the Anaconda Area were converted to Probable Mineral Reserves based on the March 2023 resource models, and Indicated Mineral Resources from the Dandoko Area were converted to Probable Mineral Reserves based on the February 2023 resource model. All conversions included consideration of Modifying Factors.
The mining cost estimates include GC drilling and sampling costs to achieve sufficient data resolution for the delineation of the ore outlines. The mining cost estimates were derived from the initial mining equipment productivity and cost estimates, then adjusted based on actual Fekola Mine operating costs and longer-term cost data for similar B2Gold projects.
The ultimate pit and internal phase designs are based on the optimum shells and are constrained by geotechnical parameters, minimum mining widths, and other operational parameters at all mining areas in the Fekola Complex. Mineral Reserves include stockpiled ore as accounted for by mine staff and are based on GC estimations and surveyed stockpile volumes.
The Mineral Reserve estimates for Fekola Complex account for mining depletion as at December 31, 2024, and costs based on historical actuals achieved at the Fekola Open Pit, adjusted based on future operating expectations. The Mineral Reserve estimate has an effective date of December 31, 2024 and was modified from the Indicated Mineral Resources estimate. No Proven Mineral Reserves have been reported.
Fekola Complex Probable Mineral Reserves Statement
| Region | Mine or Area | 100% Project Basis | Attributable OwnershipBasis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | GoldGrade<br>(g/t Au) | ContainedGold<br>Ounces<br>(x 1,000) | Attributable<br>(%) | ContainedGoldOunces<br>(x 1,000) | ||
| Fekola Mine | Fekola Open Pit | 29,200 | 1.83 | 1,720 | 80 | 1,380 |
| Cardinal Zone | 4,900 | 1.59 | 280 | 80 | 220 | |
| Stockpiles | 6,900 | 0.77 | 170 | 80 | 140 | |
| Sub-Total | 41,000 | 1.65 | 2,170 | 1,740 | ||
| Fekola Regional | Anaconda Area | 11,600 | 1.73 | 650 | 90 | 580 |
| Dandoko Area | 2,200 | 3.22 | 230 | 90 | 210 | |
| Sub-Total | 13,800 | 1.97 | 880 | 790 | ||
| Fekola Complex | Total Probable Mineral Reserves | 54,800 | 1.73 | 3,050 | ****** | 2,530 |
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Notes:
Mineral Reserves have been classified using the CIM Standards, and are reported at the point of delivery to the process plant.
The Mineral Reserves have an effective date of December 31, 2024 and have been prepared by Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects, and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.
Mineral Reserves are reported on a 100% basis. B2Gold holds an 80% attributable interest in the Fekola Open Pit, Cardinal Zone and Stockpiles; the remaining 20% interest in these areas is held by the State of Mali. B2Gold holds a 90% attributable interest in Fekola Regional, and the remaining 10% interest in these areas is held by the State of Mali. Under the 2023 Mining Code, the State's initial interest in Fekola Regional is maintained at 10%, but the State may acquire up to an additional 20% interest, and a further 5% interest must be available to be acquired by a local Malian stakeholder.
Mineral Reserves for the Fekola Open Pit are based on a conventional open pit mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93%, selling costs of $231.44/oz including royalties, mining cost at surface elevation of $2.74/t mined, average processing cost of $15.34/t processed, and site general costs of $8.97/t processed. For Mineral Reserve reporting, the model with 2.5 x 5 x 2.5 m blocks (Resource model) were regularized to 5 x 20 x 10m blocks. For Indicated blocks, within the December 2022 conceptual resource pit, above a cut-off of 0.65 g/t, the large block regularized model compared to the regularized resource model is +0.3% on tonnage, -1.1% on grade and -0.8% on contained gold. No additional dilution or ore loss has been applied for final reserve reporting. Mineral Reserves are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.65 g/t Au.
Mineral Reserves for the Cardinal Zone are based on a conventional open pit mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93%, selling costs of US$231.44/oz including royalties, mining costs ranging from US$1.94/t mined for saprolite to US$2.44 for fresh rock at surface elevation, processing costs ranging from US$10.38/t processed for saprolite to US$16.09/t processed for fresh rock, and site general costs of US$0.44/t processed. For Mineral Reserve reporting, a 1.0 x 0.5 x 0.5 m rind of edge dilution was applied at each mineralization zone contact in the regularized model. For Indicated blocks, within the 2024 resource pit, at a cut-off of 0.65 g/t Au, the regularized model with edge dilution compared to the regularized model is +8.7% on tonnage, -10.6% on grade and -2.7% on contained gold. Mineral Reserves are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.65 g/t Au.
Mineral Reserves for the Anaconda Area are based on a conventional open pit mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 93%-94% by rocktype, selling costs of US$322.09/oz including royalties and tolling charges, mining costs ranging from US$2.91/t mined for saprolite to US$3.41 for fresh rock at surface elevation, processing costs ranging from US$14.60/t processed for saprolite to US$20.40/t processed for fresh rock that includes haulage cost to the Fekola mill, and site general costs of US$1.89/t processed. For Mineral Reserve reporting, a 1.0 x 1.0 x 0.5 m (X, Y, Z) rind of edge dilution was applied at each mineralization zone contact in the regularized model. For Indicated blocks, within the June 2023 conceptual resource pit, at cut-offs of 0.40 g/t Au for weathered material and 0.60 g/t Au for fresh, the regularized model with edge dilution compared to the regularized (Resource) model is +2.9% on tonnage, -4.9% on grade and -2.2% on contained gold. Mineral Reserves are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.65 g/t Au for sulphides and 0.50 g/t Au for oxides.
Mineral Reserves for the Dandoko Area are based on a conventional open pit mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 76-94% by rocktype, selling costs of US$322.09/oz including royalties and tolling charges, mining costs ranging from US$1.95/t mined for saprolite to US$2.45 for fresh rock at surface elevation, processing costs ranging from US$15.66/t processed for saprolite to US$21.37/t processed for fresh rock that includes haulage cost to the Fekola mill, and site general costs of US$0.94/t processed. For Mineral Reserve reporting, the subcell models were regularized to a block size of 5 x 10 x 3.3333 m for SK1, and 5 x 10 x 10 m for SK2 and SK3 to account for dilution expected during mining. For Indicated plus Inferred blocks, within the February 2023 conceptual pit, at a cut-off of 0.30 g/t Au, the regularized model compared to the subcell model is +1% on tonnage, -4% on grade and -3% on contained gold. At a cut-off of 0.65 g/t Au, the regularized model compared to the subcell model is +11% on tonnage, -12% on grade and -1% on contained gold. Mineral Reserves are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.65 g/t Au for sulphides and 0.50 g/t Au for oxides.
Mineral Reserves from the Fekola Open Pit, Cardinal Zone, and stockpiles are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.65 g/t Au. Mineral Reserves from Fekola Regional are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.65 g/t Au for sulphide ore, and above a cut-off of 0.50 g/t Au for oxide ore.
All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.
Factors that may affect the Mineral Reserve estimates include: changes to the gold price assumptions; changes in application or interpretation of the 2012 Mining Code and 2023 Mining Code; changes to pit slope and geotechnical assumptions; unforeseen dilution; changes to hydrogeological and pit dewatering assumptions; changes to inputs to capital and operating cost estimates; changes to operating cost assumptions used in the constraining pit shell; changes to pit designs from those currently envisaged; stockpiling assumptions as to the amount and grade of stockpile material required to maintain operations during the wet season; assumptions used when evaluating the potential economics of Phase 8 of the Fekola Open Pit; changes in planned mining method to include underground mining; and changes to modifying factor assumptions, including environmental, permitting and social licence to operate.
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Mining Operations
The Fekola Open Pit is a conventional open pit owner-operated mine and plant. Higher-grade material is sent to the plant and lower-grade material is stockpiled to be processed later in the mine life. The Mineral Reserve-based project plan assumes six years of mining and nine years of processing, including 2025. The Fekola Mine ultimate pit is planned for development in a sequence of nine pit phases. The ultimate pit will be approximately 2.7 km long, 1.0 km wide and 400 m deep, with an overall strip ratio (waste to ore) of 9 to 1. Overall pit slopes vary by geotechnical domain, between 22-34º in saprolite and transition zones near surface, and between 41-47º in fresh rock.
The Cardinal Zone is a conventional open pit operation located within 500 m of the Fekola Open Pit. Cardinal operations are underway and will continue for another four years (including 2025) to provide an ore supplement to the Fekola mill. Operating and design practices at the Cardinal Zone are similar to the Fekola Open Pit. The Cardinal Zone as defined is approximately 3.5 km along strike, and 600 m wide. It consists of seven individual pits of varying size with the largest reaching a depth of 120 m. Overall pit slopes vary by geotechnical domain, between 31-34º in saprolite and transition zones near surface, and 47º in fresh rock.
Production from the Anaconda Area will be from a conventional open pit operation located approximately 20 km north of the Fekola mill. Anaconda Area mining consists of mining of Mineral Reserves from the Mamba and Anaconda deposits, and mining of additional components of the Mamba, Anaconda, Cobra, and Cascabel deposits that are not classified as Mineral Reserves. The Anaconda Area will have 16 pits including four at Anaconda, four at Mamba, seven at Cobra, and one at Cascabel. Across the Anaconda Area, pit widths vary from 140-700 m. The deepest phase of Anaconda reaches 105 m, the deepest phase of Mamba reaches 210 m, the deepest phase of Cobra reaches 140 m, and the Cascabel pit reaches 100 m depth. Overall pit slopes vary by geotechnical domain, between 27-38º in saprolite and transition zones near surface, and up to 51º in fresh rock. The Anaconda Area will provide a supplementary feed source for the Fekola process plant beginning in 2025, depending on permit timing and mining equipment mobilization. The Anaconda Area is expected to produce an annual average of 180,000 gold ounces from 2026-2032. The Anaconda Area will have production from Mineral Reserves and mineralization not classified as Mineral Reserves. A total of 650,000 contained gold ounces are classified as a Probable Mineral Reserve, 230,000 contained gold ounces are classified as Indicated Mineral Resources, and 620,000 contained gold ounces are classified as Inferred Mineral Resources. Anaconda Area production is a combination of oxide and sulphide tonnage. Oxide tonnage makes up approximately 34% of the contained gold ounces in the Anaconda production plan. A portion of the production plan is based on Mineral Resources. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, and production from Mineral Resources will depend on operational and financial factors at the time of mining and processing.
Production from the Dandoko Area will be from a conventional open pit operation located approximately 31 km east of the Fekola mill. Mining at the Dandoko Area will consist of three individual pits. Pit widths will vary from 110-430 m. The deepest pit will reach 140 m. Overall pit slopes vary by geotechnical domain, between 27-38º in saprolite and transition zones near surface, and up to 51º in fresh rock. The Dandoko Area will also provide a supplementary feed source for the Fekola Plant over the period 2028-2032, depending on blending needs. The Dandoko Area is expected to produce on average 65,000 gold ounces, with a peak of 75,000 gold ounces planned in 2030. The feed will be a combination of oxide and sulphide ore. Oxide ounces make up approximately 75% of the ounces in the Dandoko production plan.
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Non-reserve production from the various areas of the Fekola Complex is based on Mineral Resources. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The base-case Fekola Complex production schedule consists of the combined Fekola Open Pit, Cardinal Zone, Anaconda Area and Dandoko Area, mining up to a combined capacity of 109 Mtpa, tapering down as the deferred stripping of the last pit stages is completed. High-grade, medium-grade, and low-grade ore from the pits will be blended throughout the mine life, with high-grade and medium-grade ore being prioritized to bring forward produced ounces and increase project value. The processed grade over the last years of the mine life is lower than the mined grade due to blending with low-grade stockpiles.
Mining operations are scheduled to work 365 days a year with reduced productivity during the rainy season, although it is assumed that mining operations will take place under wet conditions with borehole and in-pit de-watering programs in place. The equipment fleet is conventional for the industry (60 t, 90 t, and 180 t capacity rigid haul trucks and 120 t, 150 t, 180 t, and 400 t class excavators) and provides relative flexibility throughout the Fekola Complex. Ore is transported from open pits to the run-of-mine ("ROM") pad for direct tipping or stockpiling from the Fekola Mine. Ore is rehandled in mining trucks from the Cardinal Zone to the ROM. The Anaconda and Dandoko Areas will use a dedicated surface haulage fleet to deliver mill feed to the ROM. The haulage distance one way is 22 km from the Anaconda Area to the Fekola plant and 31 km from the Dandoko Area to the Fekola plant.
There are four waste rock storage facilities ("WRSF") at the Fekola Open Pit: two located to the west and east of the Fekola Open Pit; and two located to the north and northwest of the Fekola Open Pit, north of the existing TSF. Construction of TSF2 is underway and will be commissioned in the third quarter of 2025. Suitable mine waste will be used for future raises planned at TSF2. The Cardinal Zone has a single WRSF to the west of the Cardinal pits. The Anaconda Area will have four WRSFs, one to the east of the Mamba deposit, one to the west of the Anaconda deposit, and two adjacent the Cobra deposit. The Dandoko Area will have one WRSF, which will be centrally located. Location considerations for the WRSFs and TSFs were based on minimising haulage costs, sustainability impacts, surface water drainage, and area availability. An overall slope angle of 18° was used in the design of all WRSF faces, with 30 m berms located at 20 m vertical intervals for the Fekola WRSFs, and 15 m berms on 10 m vertical intervals for all other WRSFs in the Fekola Complex.
Processing and Recovery Operations
Design assumptions were based on the metallurgical test work described under "Fekola Mine - Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing" above.
The optimum leaching conditions identified were 24-hour cyanidation with 350 ppm NaCN, initial lead nitrate addition of 100 g/t, pH 10.3-10.5, dissolved oxygen levels of approximately 15 ppm and a pulp density of 45% solids (weight by weight). The addition of lead nitrate and dissolved oxygen levels of 15 ppm was found to be beneficial in leach kinetics and overall recovery.
The mill uses a conventional flowsheet, consisting of: single-stage primary crushing; a SABC grinding circuit; leach feed thickening with thickener overflow treated through a carbon in column circuit; leaching followed by CIP adsorption; elution and gold recovery to doré; and cyanide destruction, tailings thickening and disposal circuits. The primary gyratory crusher and SABC grinding circuit include a ball mill in closed circuit with cyclones to achieve the final product size. The cyclone overflow stream flows by gravity to three linear trash screens operating in parallel ahead of a leach thickener. NaCN and lead nitrate are added to the SAG mill feed to start the gold leaching process. The leach thickener overflow solution is pumped to carbon columns to recover gold already dissolved in the grinding circuit. The thickened slurry is pumped to a leach circuit and then additional NaCN along with lead nitrate and oxygen are added for further gold leaching. A CIP circuit will adsorb dissolved gold onto activated carbon. A pressure Zadra elution circuit is used to recover gold from loaded carbon to produce doré. A cyanide destruction circuit using SO2 and air reduces the weak acid dissociable cyanide level in the tailings stream to an environmentally acceptable level. The tailings stream is thickened to recover water before being pumped to the TSF. Key consumables include reagents, water, and air services.
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The LoM plans are based on a nominal fresh ore plant throughput rate of 7.5 Mtpa, which can support a planned throughput rate of 9.0 Mtpa including saprolite processing, and up to 9.5 Mtpa with detailed planning and optimization. For 2024, actual mill throughput was 9.89 Mtpa.
No market studies are currently relevant as the Fekola Mine is operating and producing a readily saleable commodity in the form of doré. Doré produced is exported to Rand Refining in South Africa for refining.
Infrastructure, Permitting, and Compliance Activities
Infrastructure constructed on site includes the process plant, TSF, accommodation camp, roads, airstrip, mine services area, open pit, ore stockpiles and WRSFs. Additional infrastructure required to support proposed operations at Fekola Regional includes: open pits; ore stockpiles; WRSFs; primary access, ancillary and mine roads; mine offices and changerooms; dining halls and kitchens; first-aid clinics; workshops, wash bay/tire areas, truck shops, warehouses, fuel bays; diesel storage; batch plant; landfill facilities; haul roads to the Fekola process plant; mine site sediment control ponds; topsoil stockpiles; and explosives magazines.
Power supply to the site is from a combination HFO and diesel-fueled power station that is located adjacent to the process plant. The power station has a total installed power capacity of 64 MW, sufficient to handle the plant expansion which has an estimated power demand of approximately 40 MW. In July 2021, the Fekola Solar Plant reached full production capacity. The Fekola Solar Plant reduced processing costs by 10% in 2022. In January 2023, B2Gold announced an expansion of the Fekola Solar Plant by an additional 22 MW. In 2023, the Fekola Mine submitted an Environmental and Social Notice to Kayes Regional Environment Permitting for the solar farm expansion. The approval of the Environmental and Social Notice was received from the Direction Regionale de l'Assainissement du Contrôle des Pollutions et des Nuisances ("DRACPN") on March 27, 2023. The permit for the self generation of power is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2025. Construction of the Fekola Solar Plant expansion project commenced in the third quarter of 2023 and completed in the fourth quarter of 2024 and became operational in January 2025. The expanded Fekola Solar Plant is expected to supply approximately 30% of the site's total electricity demand.
The TSF is located to the north of the process plant and pit, and adjacent to the eastern WRSF. As designed, the TSF will store a total of 58-62 million tonnes ("Mt") of tailings, depending on final achievable tailings densities. The TSF has been constructed to the final elevation and will be filled to design capacity in mid to late 2025. The construction of TSF2, with initial capacity of 55 Mt and ultimate capacity of up to 125 Mt, commenced in the fourth quarter of 2022 and is planned to be completed in the third quarter of 2025.
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In addition to the Mineral Reserves, the mine plan may require additional storage if non-reserve stockpile materials are processed in the future. Such non-reserve stockpiles, currently classified as Indicated Mineral Resources but not converted to Mineral Reserves, may be fed to the process plant if supported by gold price and costs at the time of processing. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The Fekola Open Pit footprint is in an existing natural drainage course, with an upstream catchment of 9 km^2^, which is diverted around the pit. Water for the Fekola Mine is sourced from pit groundwater, surface water (direct precipitation and rainfall runoff) storage, dedicated bore holes for potable water use at both the process plant and the accommodation camp, and water pumps at the Falémé River in the event that site water quantity or quality requirements are not met as anticipated by the pit dewatering bore holes and surface water (direct precipitation and run-off) storage.
An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") was completed for the Fekola Mine in 2013 and approved by the Ministry of Environment and Sanitation on April 29, 2013 (the "2013 ESIA"). As part of the 2013 ESIA update, a detailed assessment of potential environmental and social impacts from the development of the Fekola Mine was conducted. Following the implementation of proposed mitigation measures and under normal operating conditions, identified potential impacts are not estimated to cause significant long-term, adverse impacts on receptors or the receiving environment. Subsequent to the completion of the 2015 Feasibility Study, the 2013 ESIA was updated to fill gaps identified in the previous 2013 ESIA, to reflect improvements and modifications to the Fekola Mine design and to align the assessment with international standards (the "2015 ESIA Update"). The 2015 ESIA Update was submitted to regulators in early 2019 and approval of the 2015 ESIA Update was received on March 17, 2020. The 2015 ESIA Update now serves as the documentation of record for the Fekola Mine.
An update to the Malian Feasibility Study and a subsequent related Rehabilitation and Mine Closure Plan were submitted to the DNGM in early 2022. The updated Malian Feasibility Study reflected the up to date mine plans and Mineral Reserves (including the Cardinal Zone) for the Fekola Mine. The Rehabilitation and Mine Closure Plan was approved on October 18, 2022. A formal acknowledgement letter of the updated Malian Feasibility Study was received from the DNGM on November 25, 2022.
In 2022, the Fekola Mine submitted an Environmental and Social Notice to develop an underground ramp to facilitate exploration drilling. The approval of the Environmental and Social Notice was received from the Direction Nationale de l'Assainissement du Contrôle des Pollutions et des Nuisances ("DNACPN") on November 7, 2022. Further approval to advance with underground exploration and tunneling was granted by the DNGM on June 16, 2023. In 2024, an ESIA was submitted for the exploitation of the Fekola underground mine. The approval of the Fekola underground ESIA was received from the DNACPN on February 28, 2025.
In 2023, the Fekola Mine submitted an ESIA to develop a new TSF, being TSF2. The ESIA approval was received from DNACPN on April 25, 2023. TSF2 is on schedule to be completed in the third quarter of 2025.
Closure and reclamation costs for the Fekola Complex are estimated and updated annually. Closure and reclamation costs as at the end of 2024 were estimated at $65.3 million for the Fekola Mine. We have entered into an escrow agreement with the Malian Government pursuant to which an escrow account is being funded by Fekola S.A. on a unit of production basis to be used for reclamation and closure purposes of the Fekola Mine. Under the terms of the agreement, the funds will be released from escrow from time to time for Fekola Mine rehabilitation and closure purposes, in accordance with the Fekola Convention and the mine closure plan.
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Baseline environmental studies covering the Bantako Nord Permit and Menankoto Permit area commenced in 2016 and 2017. Baseline studies included: aquatic ecology and biodiversity; terrestrial ecology and biodiversity, including additional specialist study regarding priority and threatened species; water resources, hydrology and hydrogeology; land and water resource use; soils and geomorphology; air quality, noise and vibration; archaeology and cultural heritage; and socio-economic baseline (including governance, population and demography, livelihoods, health and well-being, education, housing, infrastructure, vulnerable groups and development planning).
In 2022, an Environmental and Social Notice was submitted to develop the supporting mining infrastructure on the Menankoto Permit, including HME workshop, warehouse, tire bay, fuel storage, offices, water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, landfill. The approval of the Environmental and Social Notice was received from the Kayes DRACPN on August 25, 2022.
An ESIA was completed for Bantako Nord Permit and submitted to the DNACPN in March 2023 (the "2023 ESIA"). Following the evaluation of the ESIA by DNACPN, the Environmental Permit (Decision No. 2023-0023) was secured. Following further investigation since 2022, the Anaconda Area concept has been further optimised to define deposits which span across the Menankoto-South, Bantako-North and Bakolobi Exploration Permits areas (i.e., Anaconda, Mamba, Cascabel and Cobra). These deposits located within the three exploration licences are now intended to be consolidated into the Anaconda Area. To execute the updated Anaconda Project, the Anaconda Area ESIA was initiated in June 2024 (the "2024 ESIA"). One of the significant impacts identified by the 2024 ESIA is the expected loss and fragmentation of terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity as well as the loss of wetlands. The local area has been found to be significantly impacted by anthropogenic activities, specifically ASM and agricultural activities. However, there are areas within the proposed Project area which remains intact and natural and have important biodiversity values as they hold flora and fauna species of conservation concern. A key aim for the Anaconda Area is to reduce the loss of terrestrial and freshwater habitats. Mining in the Anaconda Area will also result in economic displacement of cultivation fields which was also identified as a negative impact due to the current pressures on agricultural land and natural resource provisions as a consequence of increased occupation of land for ASM and growing communities. Based on the outcomes of the impact assessment, mining in the Anaconda Area is not expected to result in a significant irreversible environmental or social impact that outweighs the continuation of socio-economic benefits at the Anaconda Area. The Anaconda Area will leverage on processing infrastructure at Fekola Mine, thus limiting ancillary infrastructure requirements which further reduces the Anaconda Area's footprint of disturbance.
Following the completion of the 2024 ESIA and approval by the inter-ministerial committee, the Anaconda Area Environmental Permit Decision No. 2024-0069 was issued by the Ministry of Environment on December 31, 2024. We are awaiting the approval of the consolidation of the Menankoto-South, Bantako-North and Bakolobi Exploration Permits into one exploration licence and the subsequent granting of the exploitation licence before being able to proceed with mining. These are expected to be received in 2025.
Baseline socioeconomic and environmental studies covering the Dandoko Area have been conducted from 2021. Baseline studies included fauna and flora, aquatic biodiversity, wetlands and soils, air quality, noise, surface water, groundwater, geochemistry, and cultural heritage, as well as socio-economic baseline including economic activity, education and skills, household income and expenditure, land use and residence status, social services and infrastructure, natural resource use, vulnerable groups, social networks, and community needs.
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In 2023, an ESIA was initiated to progress the Dandoko Area permitting process. As part of this undertaking, an update to the 2021 baseline condition was completed in June 2023. Impact assessment reports that evaluate the pre-project conditions, project-related emissions, and cumulative exposure at the selective sensitive receptors are currently being reviewed.
Stakeholder consultation across the Fekola Complex licences and nearby communities has encompassed socio-economic data collection activities and included meetings with administrative and regional authorities, village meetings, village chief interviews, demographic census, household surveys, and focus groups. Stakeholder engagement was also carried out with artisanal miners to understand the extent and dynamics of ASM.
Capital and Operating Costs
Capital Costs
Capital costs are based on operational experience, feasibility study results, and LoM projections. The table below presents the 2025 budgeted costs and estimated costs for the LoM, excluding 2025.
Capital Cost Estimate
| Area | 2025 Budget <br>(US$ million) | LoM Estimated Cost <br>excluding 2025<br>(US$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| Site general and infrastructure | 8.7 | 12.7 |
| Mining and processing | 53.0 | 139.3 |
| Land purchase and TSF related | 14.7 | 36.8 |
| Closure and rehabilitation | 0.6 | 64.7 |
| Total | 77.0 | 254.2 |
Notes:
Totals have been rounded and may result in apparent summation differences.
The projected LoM for the Fekola Complex is approximately seven years of mining and nine years of processing, including 2025.
Capital cost estimates include mining fleet replacement, major rebuilds, TSF construction, and development of infrastructure for mining of Fekola Regional. Deferred stripping costs are excluded from capital cost estimates.
Operating Costs
Budgeted 2025 and estimated LoM operating costs, excluding 2025, are provided in the table below.
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Operating Cost Forecast
| Area | Units | 2025 Budget | LoM Estimated Cost<br>excluding 2025 |
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| Mining | US$/t mined | 3.51 | 4.08 |
| Processing | US$/t processed | 14.21 | 14.44 |
| Site general | US$/t processed | 9.47 | 10.19 |
Notes:
The projected LoM for the Fekola Complex is approximately seven years of mining and nine years of processing, including 2025.
LoM mining costs include open pit mining at the Fekola Complex.
Operating costs include all mining, processing and site general costs including deferred stripping.
The cost estimates are based on our current budget and LoM plans for the Fekola Mine, using the assumptions listed above. Costs in subsequent years may vary significantly from the 2025 budget and LoM cost estimates as a result of current or future year non-recurring expenditures, changes to input cost and exchange rates, and changes to our current operations and/or production plans. Our current LoM plan is based on existing Mineral Reserves. We conduct ongoing exploration and analysis at our operating mines to improve project value, which may change the capital and operating costs in the future.
Production, Development, and Exploration
In 2024, the Fekola Complex produced 392,946 ounces of gold. The Fekola Mine has produced 3.78 million ounces of gold since mining started in September 2017.
Mill throughput for 2024 was 9.89 Mt at an average gold grade of 1.34 g/t Au with an average gold recovery of 92.5 %, as compared to mill throughput in 2023 of 9.41 Mt at an average grade of 2.13 g/t Au, with an average recovery of 92.3%. Throughout 2024, Fekola's processing facilities continued to significantly outperform resulting in record annual throughput of 9.89 Mt for 2024. The higher than budgeted mill throughput for 2024 was due to favourable ore fragmentation and hardness, as well as continuing optimization of the grinding circuit. The annualized throughput rate is expected to average approximately 9.4 Mtpa (over the long-term), based on an ore blend including fresh rock and oxide material (saprolite).
Based on the updated Fekola Complex Mineral Reserve estimate and detailed LoM planning, we have demonstrated that Fekola Regional is expected to supplement production at the Fekola Mine, producing up to 650,000 ounces of gold from the Anaconda Area and 230,000 ounces of gold from the Dandoko Area over the remaining life of the project. The Anaconda Area LoM contains an additional 230,000 contained gold ounces that are classified as Indicated Mineral Resources, and 620,000 contained gold ounces classified as Inferred Mineral Resources. Once mining ramps up, Fekola Regional is expected to provide oxide feed to reach the Fekola plant limit of 15% oxide material in the total throughput, or approximately 1.5 Mtpa. Gold production from the Anaconda Area is budgeted to commence as soon as the fourth quarter of 2025, and production from the Dandoko Area is currently assumed to commence in early 2028. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, and production from Mineral Resources will depend on operational and financial factors at the time of mining and processing.
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In 2025, gold production from the Fekola Complex is anticipated to increase relative to 2024 due to higher grade mill feed at 1.84 g/t Au, compared to 1.34 g/t Au in 2024. The Fekola mill production guidance for 2025 is between 515,000 and 550,000 gold ounces from processing of 9.56 Mt ore with 93.4% recovery.
At the Fekola Mine, ore will continue to be mined from the Fekola and Cardinal open pits. Receipt of an exploitation licence for Fekola Regional remains outstanding, an application for which will be submitted following the combination of the Anaconda Area exploration licences into one exploration licence first. Fekola Regional will be governed by the 2023 Mining Code as amended by the 2024 MOU.
The expected decrease in Fekola’s all-in sustaining costs (“AISC”) for 2025 relative to 2024 predominantly reflects the expected increase in production at Fekola in 2025 due to the mining significant high-grade volumes from Phase 7 of the Fekola pit, starting production from the Fekola underground project in mid 2025, and starting production from Fekola Regional in late 2025. Capital expenditures in 2025 at the Fekola Complex are expected to total approximately $234 million, of which approximately $197 million is classified as sustaining capital expenditures and $37 million is classified as growth capital expenditures. Sustaining capital expenditures are anticipated to include $106 million for deferred stripping, $15 million for construction of TSF2, $44 million for new and replacement mining equipment, including capitalized rebuilds. Growth capital expenditures are anticipated to include $21 million for underground mine development, and $16 million for mine development and infrastructure for Fekola Regional.
A total of $9 million is budgeted for exploration in Mali in 2025 with an ongoing focus on discovery of additional high-grade, sulphide mineralization across the Fekola Complex to supplement feed to the Fekola mill. A total of 16,000 m of diamond and RC drilling is planned for Mali in 2025. Underground development and drilling will continue through 2025. Continued drilling will provide further definition of known resources, currently under review for future underground mining operations.
In addition to the LoM estimates for the Fekola Complex described above, there remains additional opportunities to improve the production profile and lower the AISC. These opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Conversion of some or all of the Indicated Mineral Resources (that have not been converted to Mineral Reserves) to Mineral Reserves, with appropriate supporting studies. Due to oxide throughput constraints at the Fekola mill that limit oxide feed to 15% of total ore feed, not all oxide material mined above cut-off is included in the LoM plan;
- Upgrade of some or all of the Inferred Mineral Resources to higher-confidence categories through additional drilling and supporting studies, such that some or all of this material could support Mineral Reserve estimation. Specifically, certain resources in Fekola Regional contain an economic grade profile but haven't been drilled to a spacing that would support an upgrade from Inferred Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves. Historically, Inferred Mineral Resources have been converted to Indicated Mineral Resources at a rate of approximately 70%; and
- Between 25,000 and 35,000 ounces of gold production is expected from the mining of high-grade ore at Fekola underground in 2025, with ramp up to full production in 2026 (subject to the exploration drilling results, technical studies, and receipt of all necessary permits) and add to the production profile throughout the existing mine life.
Success in the above initiatives has the potential to result in an improved and extended production profile of the Fekola Complex from 2026 onwards, with lower associated all-in sustaining costs.
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Masbate Gold Project

Certain portions of the following information are derived from and based on the technical report entitled "Masbate Gold Operation, Republic of the Philippines, NI 43-101 Technical Report on Operations" that has an effective date of December 31, 2016, and was prepared by Tom Garagan, P. Geo., John Rajala, P.E. and Ken Jones, P.E. (the "Masbate Report") and is based on the assumptions, qualifications and procedures set out therein. For a more detailed overview of the Masbate Gold Project, please refer to the Masbate Report, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Information that post-dates the Masbate Report is provided by B2Gold.
Property Description, Location, and Access
The Masbate Gold Project is located on Masbate Island in the Republic of the Philippines. The mine is situated about 360 km southeast of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, within the municipality of Aroroy, Masbate Province, Region V. The mine site can be accessed by a commercial airline service, which flies daily to Masbate City, after which it is a 70 km drive on a partially sealed road to the mine site. The mine is equipped with a barge loading jetty where heavy equipment and consumables are delivered and offloaded.
We hold our interest in the Masbate Gold Project through indirectly owned subsidiaries. We have a 40% interest in Filminera and a 100% interest in PGPRC. The remaining 60% interest in Filminera is held by a Philippine-registered company, Zoom Mineral Holdings, Inc., which is wholly owned by Filipino shareholders. Filminera holds the Masbate Gold Project tenements and is responsible for the mining, environmental, social and community relations at the Masbate Gold Project site. PGPRC developed and owns the process plant on the island of Masbate and is responsible for the sale of all gold. PGPRC and Filminera have a contractual relationship, which includes PGPRC purchasing all of the ore production from Filminera at a price equal to the cost for the ore plus a predetermined percentage, while maintaining joint financial and legal liability for the social and environmental obligations under Philippine laws.
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Filminera currently holds twenty-nine patented claims, three mineral production sharing agreements (each an "MPSA"), including the MPSA acquired from Vicar Mining Corporation ("VMC"), and four Exploration Permits (each an "EP"). Collectively, these patented claims and MPSAs cover an area of about 6,098 ha. Most of the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves are within the patented mineral claims that have perpetual rights with no expiry date. On February 17, 2022, Filminera secured from the Secretary of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (the "DENR") the renewal of MPSA 95-97-V for another 25 years (until November 20, 2047). That MPSA covers portions of the Main Vein Pit and a substantial portion of the Blue Quartz vein system.
We hold a 40% interest in VMC. Under the MPSA assigned to Filminera, VMC is entitled to a royalty from gold production. VMC has one EP with an area of approximately 919 ha. currently being operated by Filminera.
Filminera also has pending applications for four EPs. The grant of the EP applications may be subject to delays in the administration of the Philippine permitting process.
Filminera holds the surface rights to all current open pits, WRSFs and stockpiles, the Masbate Gold Project process plant, TSF and associated infrastructure facilities, such as the causeway, port, airstrip, and housing areas. Additional surface rights will need to be acquired in the areas where the satellite pits are planned.
There is a 4% excise tax on gross gold and silver sales is payable on a quarterly basis to the Philippine Government under the MPSA regulatory framework.
The Philippine Government has proposed a New Fiscal Regime for the Mining Industry. This Bill introduces key fiscal reforms while maintaining the fundamental principles of a profit-based taxation system. The Bill may be approved within the year and would affect the Masbate Gold Project.
Under the proposed Bill, and subject to clarification of how these would be applied, the Masbate Gold Project could be subject to two new taxes, a royalty tax and a windfall profit tax, both of which are expected to be based on a measure of income from mining operations.
A further 1.5% of operating costs is a required expenditure for the social development of host communities. Additionally, on January 1, 2018, an excise tax on petroleum purchases came into effect, which charges excise tax on diesel fuel and bunker fuel. See "Risk Factors" below for a discussion regarding recent and potential tax amendments in the Philippines.
Filminera owns the Pajo property located within the MPSA assigned by VMC to Filminera that covers an area of approximately 786 ha and expires in 2030. Filminera has the right, at its expense, to explore and, if warranted, develop, and operate any mine in the Pajo property. VMC would receive a royalty share equivalent to 2% of the gross receipts (less certain expenses) of the mineral products realized from the MPSA.
History
Exploration and mining operations in the Masbate area were undertaken by Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation ("Atlas") prior to the acquisition of the project by Filminera. Filminera and PGPRC then completed the feasibility study and construction of the Masbate Gold Project. In 1997, Filminera became the mining operator for the Masbate Gold Project while PGPRC became the process plant operator. Philippines Gold Limited, formerly Philippine Gold PLC, ("PGL") owns 40% of Filminera and 100% of PGPRC. PGL was then controlled by Thistle Mining Inc. and subsequently by CGA Mining Limited ("CGA") before it was acquired by B2Gold in 2013.
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Work programs completed have included geological mapping, mapping of artisanal workings, geochemical sampling (stream sediment, rock chip, grab, channel and trench, and soil auger), helicopter geophysical surveys (magnetics and radiometrics), an orientation IP survey, core and RC drilling, metallurgical test work, environmental studies, and mining and technical studies.
Early mining activity was halted by the advent of World War II. Atlas undertook open pit and underground mining operations from 1980 to 1994, and reportedly produced about 1.4 million ounces of gold. CGA recommenced mining from open pit sources in 2009, and open pit mining is ongoing.
Artisanal miners have also been active in the Masbate Gold Project area; however, production from these sources is unknown.
Geological Setting, Mineralization, and Deposit Types
Masbate is considered to be an example of a low sulphidation epithermal gold deposit. The gold deposits that are currently being mined at Masbate are centred on a 5-7 km wide northwest- to southeast-oriented mineralised volcanic block which is bounded by two interpreted northwest-trending fault zones. The mineralized system being mined in the open pit operations has a strike length of about 10 km, from Balete in the south to Pajo in the north. Mineralization has been tested to about 400 m depth.
The principal host rock to the gold mineralisation is a fractured andesitic-dacitic, tuffaceous agglomerate. Mineralisation occurs within quartz veins and associated altered and quartz-stockwork wall rocks and breccias. Gold is typically hosted in grey to white crystalline to chalcedonic quartz and is frequently associated with pyrite, marcasite, and minor amounts of chalcopyrite and sphalerite. HG veins are generally narrow (<1 m) but some may reach 20 m in width; sheeted stockwork zones can be up to 75 m in width.
Exploration
Exploration activities completed by Filminera have included: geological mapping; pit mapping; and stream sediment, rock chip, grab, channel, trench, and soil auger sampling. The mapping programs identified alteration zones, fault traces, and quartz veins and quartz breccia zones. Geochemical sampling is used as a first-pass tool to define areas of gold anomalism and has identified several prospects considered to warrant follow-up exploration activity. Geophysical data have been used to develop the broad lithological and structural framework for the project area. In many examples of known mineralization, magnetic lows are located along the margins of magnetic highs interpreted as unaltered rocks of andesitic composition.
Our current and planned exploration activities are discussed under the heading "Production, Development, and Exploration" below*.*
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Drilling
The exploration drill hole database, as at December 31, 2024, contains 4,294 core and RC drill holes totalling 546,486 m. Drilling completed in 2024 consisted of 25 core holes (5,463 m).
The Mineral Resource estimate is based on data from RC and core exploration surface and underground drill holes, exploration trenches, and RC GC drill holes. The Masbate Mineral Resource was updated in late 2023. The exploration drill hole database cut-off date for the 2023 Mineral Resource estimate was August 15, 2023, and the GC database cut-off was May 16, 2023. Data used for the 2023 update include a total of 3,710 core and RC drill holes (488,950 m) and 1015 trenches (24,684 m) from the exploration database and 124,001 drill holes (2,516,709 m) from the GC RC drilling database.
All core to date has been photographed as a record. RC chips and core are logged for geological and geotechnical information. Geological information collected includes lithologies, alteration types, vein percentages, sulphides and sulphide content, and structure. Geotechnical information collected includes weathering condition, type of structures, joint spacing, joint condition, and type of joint filling (e.g., gouge, mylonite, breccia, or vein). Core recoveries are recorded.
Methods used to survey drill hole collar locations have included theodolite, total station, and GPS instruments. Down-hole surveys have been performed at regular down-hole intervals using a number of different instrument types, including Tropari, Ausmine, Eastman, Proshot and Reflex instrumentation.
Due to the subvertical dip of most mineralized zones, the majority of the drill holes intersected them at low angles. As a result, the mineralized thickness observed in drill holes does not correspond to the true thickness, which should be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Current and planned drilling is summarized under the heading "Production, Development, and Exploration" below.
Sampling, Analysis, and Data Verification
Depending on the drill program and drill type, sample lengths have varied from 1-1.5 m. Current sampling is typically conducted on 1 m intervals for RC, core, and GC drilling. Core is cut in half using a rock saw. RC and GC samples are riffle split and sampled using a rig-mounted Metzke cone splitter.
Sample preparation has used crush and pulverization criteria that were in line with industry norms at the time. Current protocols are crushing to 75% passing -2 mm and pulverising to 85% passing 75 µm.
Sample preparation and analytical laboratories used have included the following independent laboratories: McPhar Laboratories (accredited to ISO 9001:2000 for selected techniques), SGS Philippines (unknown), SGS Taiwan (ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025), SGS Masbate (not accredited), Intertek, Manila (ISO/IEC 17025), and ACME/Bureau Veritas, Vancouver (ISO/IEC 17025). The early sampling campaigns used the Atlas laboratory in Cebu and the Masbate onsite mine laboratory, neither of which were accredited or independent.
Gold assay methods have included AAS and fire assays, and these methods are still in use. All the 2023 primary assays were performed by SGS Masbate with Bureau Veritas, Vancouver used for umpire assays.
In total, the exploration department has collected density measurements using a range of techniques, including water immersion, waxed-sample water immersion, direct measurement of whole core and direct measurement of half core.
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Modern QA/QC programs have been in place since at least 2000, and include submission of blank, standard reference and duplicate materials. Current insertion rates are approximately one standard, one duplicate, and one blank for each 39 samples submitted.
Data imported into the project database are subject to validation, which includes checks on surveys, collar co-ordinates, lithology data, and assay data. The checks are considered to be appropriate, and consistent with industry norms.
Sample security practices were in line with industry norms prevailing at the time the sample was collected. Samples are currently stored in a secure facility prior to being shipped to the preparation and analytical laboratories.
A reasonable level of verification has been completed during the work conducted to date, and no material issues were identified from the verification programs undertaken. No problems with the database, sampling protocols, flowsheets, check analysis program, or data storage were identified that were sufficient to preclude the use of the database for estimation purposes.
Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing
Metallurgical test work was performed by Atlas prior to commencing operations, and in support of feasibility studies that were undertaken in 1998 and 2006, respectively. These studies supported that the Masbate ores were amenable to conventional cyanidation processes.
At our request, SGS Minerals Services, which is independent from B2Gold, undertook a metallurgical variability test program from 2013-2015 to examine the response of samples from a number of mineralized zones to cyanide leaching using the CIL process. Additional test work was conducted to sufficiently characterize ores to be processed through the plant for the LoM. The metallurgical test work completed to date is based on samples that adequately represent the variability of the proposed mine plan.
Average LoM gold recoveries are based on a metallurgical model generated from metallurgical test work, gold grade, material type, and other parameters. Recovery forecasts within the Mineral Reserve pits range from 64% to 89%. Stockpiled materials are assigned an average metallurgical recovery of 75% for mine planning purposes.
There are no known deleterious elements that incur penalties in the doré. There are also no known elements in the material to be treated that may cause plant processing issues.
Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates
Mineral Resources
Mineralization domains including vein and halo (stockwork), voids and backfilled historic mining shapes, oxidation surfaces, metallurgical recovery domains, and topographic surfaces were modeled as 3D solids or surfaces as appropriate and applied to the block model.
Grade capping, ranging from 1-80 g/t Au was applied by domain prior to compositing to 3 m intervals.
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Average densities based on measurements done at site were applied to the block for in situ zones by oxidation state. Assumed densities were applied to historically mined-out workings, eluvial/alluvial deposits, and modern and historic dumps.
Estimation is completed for five types of domains: vein; halo (stockwork); surficial (eluvial/alluvial); dump; and mined-out/void/backfilled stopes. For each domain type, estimation is completed using OK with inverse ID2 and NN interpolation methods used for model checking. For the halo domains, an indicator kriged ("IK") estimate, consisting of a single indicator at 0.35 g/t Au, is used for reporting.
Block model grades were validated by visual comparison to composite grades, swath plots to check for local bias and global domain checks comparing NN estimates at a zero-gold cut-off grade, comparison to change-of-support distributions and reconciliation to GC models. Overall, the block grade estimates reasonably match the input data.
For vein-coded blocks, Indicated Mineral Resources are supported by an approximate drill spacing of 40-50 m and Inferred Mineral Resources are supported by an approximate drill spacing of 80-100 m. For stockwork/halo zones, the Indicated drill hole spacing is approximately 35 x 35 m, and for Inferred it is approximately 80 x 80 m. All stockpiles are classified as Indicated, and surficial deposits (eluvial/alluvial) are assigned the Inferred confidence category.
Mineral Resources are confined within pit shells that used a gold price of $2,100 per ounce and reported above an average gold cut-off grade of 0.35 g/t Au.
Mineral Resource Estimate
The Mineral Resource estimate for the Masbate Gold Project accounts for mining depletion as at December 31, 2024. The Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of December 31, 2024.
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Masbate Indicated Mineral Resources Statement
| Area | 100% Project Basis | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | Gold Grade<br>(g/t Au) | Contained Gold<br>Ounces<br>(x 1,000) | |
| North | 21,340 | 0.73 | 500 |
| South | 64,590 | 0.85 | 1,770 |
| Stockpiles | 39,110 | 0.60 | 750 |
| Total Indicated Mineral Resources | 125,030 | 0.75 | 3,030 |
Masbate Inferred Mineral Resources Statement
| Area | 100% Project Basis | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | Gold Grade<br>(g/t Au) | Contained Gold<br>Ounces<br>(x 1,000) | |
| North | 9,120 | 0.76 | 220 |
| South | 22,130 | 0.81 | 580 |
| Total Inferred Mineral Resources | 31,240 | 0.80 | 800 |
Notes:
Mineral Resources have been classified using the CIM Standards. Mineral Resources are reported in situ or in stockpiles inclusive of those Mineral Resources that have been modified to Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project basis. Pursuant to the ore sales and purchase agreement between Filminera and PGPRC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, PGPRC has the right to purchase all ore from the Masbate Gold Project. We have a 40% interest in Filminera, which owns the majority of the Masbate Gold Project tenements, and the remaining 60% is owned by Zoom, a Philippine shareholder company. Please see heading "Property Description, Location, and Access" above for a further discussion of the foregoing.
The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Michael Johnson, P.Geo., our Technical Services Manager.
The Qualified Person for the stockpile estimate is Peter Montano, P.E, our Vice President, Projects.
The Mineral Resource estimate for the Masbate Gold Project accounts for mining depletion as of December 31, 2024. The Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of December 31, 2024.
Mineral Resource estimates assume an open pit mining method.
Mineral Resources are reported within a conceptual open pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, modeled metallurgical recovery (resulting in average metallurgical recoveries by resource area that range from 60-89%), and operating cost estimates of US$1.50-US$2.00/t mined (mining), US$14.87/t processed (processing) , US$2.48-US$3.78/t processed (site general) and a selling cost of US$89.34/oz.
Mineral Resources are reported at an average cut-off grade of 0.35 g/t Au.
North and South designations refer to locations north and south of the Guinobatan River, respectively.
All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.
Factors that may affect the Mineral Resource estimates include changes to: metal price assumptions; assumptions used to generate the gold cut-off grade; local interpretations of mineralization geometry and continuity of mineralized zones; geological and mineralization shape and geological and grade continuity assumptions; density and domain assignments; geotechnical, mining and metallurgical recovery assumptions; the input and design parameter assumptions that pertain to the conceptual pit constraining the estimates; and our assumptions as to the continued ability to access the site, retain mineral and surface rights titles, and maintain the social licence to operate.
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Mineral Reserves
An economic analysis was completed on the Mineral Resource block model to establish an estimate of economically extractable Mineral Reserves. Dilution, ore loss and metallurgical recovery factors were applied to the Mineral Resource model to create a diluted Mineral Reserve model which includes "recoverable" grade estimates.
Open pit optimization was completed on the recoverable grade estimates in the Mineral Reserve block model using commercially-available optimization software using physical and economic parameters including geotechnical characteristics, pit wall and ramp designs, pit access elevations, mining, processing, site general, and sustaining capital costs. Only blocks classified as Indicated Mineral Resources were included in the pit optimizations. The economic parameters used for open pit optimization were used to create cut-off grades for reporting of Mineral Reserves. Final pit designs were completed by personnel at the mine site.
Mineral Reserves include stockpiled ore which is derived by mine staff from detailed survey pickup for volume calculation of individual stockpiles, with grade estimated from GC. Mineral Reserves are contained within five main open pits with the Main Vein pit being the largest.
The Mineral Reserve estimate for the Masbate Gold Project accounts for mining depletion as at December 31, 2024 and costs based on the LoM plan and 2025 budget. The Mineral Reserve estimate has an effective date of December 31, 2024. Mineral Reserve estimates for the Masbate Gold Project have been modified from the Indicated Mineral Resources. No Proven Mineral Reserves have been reported.
Masbate Probable Mineral Reserves Statement
| Area | 100% Project Basis | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | Gold Grade<br>(g/t Au) | Contained Gold<br>Ounces<br>(x 1,000) | |
| North | 5,100 | 0.78 | 130 |
| South | 16,800 | 1.01 | 550 |
| Stockpiles | 39,100 | 0.60 | 750 |
| Total Probable Mineral Reserves | 61,000 | 0.73 | 1,430 |
Notes:
Mineral Reserves have been classified using the CIM Standards, and are reported at the point of delivery to the process plant.
Mineral Reserves are reported on a 100% project basis. Pursuant to the ore sales and purchase agreement between Filminera and PGPRC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, PGPRC has the right to purchase all ore from the Masbate Gold Project. We have a 40% interest in Filminera, which owns the majority of the Masbate Gold Project tenements, and the remaining 60% is owned by Zoom, a Philippine shareholder company. Please see heading "Property Description, Location, and Access" above for a further discussion of the foregoing.
The Qualified Person for the Mineral Reserve estimate is Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects.
Mineral Reserves are based on a conventional open pit mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, modeled metallurgical recovery (resulting in average LoM metallurgical recoveries by pit that range from 59–84%), and average base operating cost estimates of US$1.46–US$2.23/t mined (mining), US$14.26/t processed (processing), US$2.48–3.78/t processed (site general), and US$75.34/oz selling cost including royalties.
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Reserve model dilution and ore loss were applied through whole block averaging such that at a 0.45 g/t Au cut-off there is a 4.1% increase in tonnes, a 5.4% reduction in grade, and a 1.6% reduction in ounces when compared to the Mineral Resource model.
Mineral Reserves are reported at an assay cut-off grade of 0.42 g/t Au.
North and South designations refer to locations north and south of the Guinobatan River, respectively.
All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.
Factors that may affect the Mineral Reserve estimates include changes to: gold price, pit slope and geotechnical, hydrogeological and pit dewatering assumptions; inputs to capital and operating cost estimates; operating cost assumptions used in the constraining pit shell; pit designs from those currently envisaged; modifying factor assumptions, including environmental, permitting, and social licence to operate; and stockpiling assumptions as to the amount and grade of stockpile material.
Mining Operations
The mine is a conventional open pit operation. Based on the current LoM, mining activities are expected to end in 2028 while Mineral Reserve stockpile processing is expected to continue into 2034. The mine plan assumes that all necessary permits will be granted in support of the mining operations, and that all the required surface rights can be obtained. The open pit mining sequence involves: GC drilling; drill and blast operations; and excavation and hauling of materials to the process plant ROM pad, temporary LG ore stockpiles, or WRSF. Mining operations are conducted under an owner-operator model, and activities are scheduled on a 24-hour, seven days per week basis. Our mine life estimate is based on current Mineral Reserves, with the addition of non-reserve mining from planned larger pits if supported by mining costs and gold prices at the time. These larger pits contain approximately 190,000 ounces of Indicated Mineral Resources and 55,000 ounces of Inferred Mineral Resources that have not been converted to Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources in LG stockpiles may be processed at the end of mine life, or when higher grade tonnage is not available, depending on current costs and gold prices. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Information derived from geotechnical and exploration drilling carried out at the various deposits, together with hydrogeological assessments (where available) and subsequent wall stability analyses and assessments, have been used to prepare "base case" wall design parameters at the feasibility level, which are considered suitable for use for mining purposes. The pit slope design recommendations were provided for the operation by third-party consultants George, Orr, and Associates.
Hydrogeological assessments have been performed for the Main Vein and Montana open pits. Water management practices envisage use of depressurization holes where necessary, and the potential use of vibrating wire piezometers. No hydrogeological information is currently available for the areas of the satellite pits, and the projected mine plans for these areas should allow for wall depressurisation drilling.
An average of 33 Mtpa of ore and waste will be mined from seven different open pits and phases. Production in 2024 was mostly from the Main Vein pit and ore stockpiles. The primary ore sources in 2025 will be from the Main Vein pit, the Blue Quartz pit, and the Old Lady pit.
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Processing and Recovery Operations
Design assumptions were based on the metallurgical test work described under the heading "Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing" above.
The process plant is a conventional CIP type facility consisting of: primary crushing, two-stage SAG/ball mill grinding with pebble crushing, leaching, carbon adsorption; elution, electrowinning, and smelting gold recovery stages; and a cyanide detoxification stage treating process plant tails before disposal in a TSF. Material is ground to 130-150 µm, and the leach residence time is 26 hours at the 8.0 Mtpa throughput rate.
Materials handling within the plant consists of 13 conveyor belts that are used to transport ore from the primary and supplementary crushing plants to the grinding and classification area. A 2.1 km long, 630 mm diameter high-density polyethylene tailings line runs from the process plant to the TSF.
The plant underwent an upgrade to 8.0 Mtpa in 2019. Currently, using the hardest ore types, the plant can treat 8.0 Mtpa consistently for the LoM. This expansion primarily consisted of adding a third ball mill and upgrading the existing crushing circuit.
No market studies are currently relevant as the Masbate Gold Project is an operating mine producing a readily saleable commodity in the form of doré. Doré produced by PGPRC typically contains 60% gold and 40% silver and is exported to Metalor Refinery in Switzerland for refining.
Infrastructure, Permitting, and Compliance Activities
The mine area is fully serviced with roads that currently connect the open pit mines, process plant area, and accommodations areas. The mine airstrip is suitable for daylight operations and is used to transport critical personnel and spare parts. The causeway at Port Barrera is used for barge transport of heavy equipment, reagents (lime, cyanide), bulk materials, spare parts, and other oversized items. A 30 MW HFO- and diesel-fueled power plant provides power to the operations. An additional 9.4 MW HFO generator was installed at the power plant and commissioned in the second quarter of 2023.
The TSF was formed by cross-valley type earth-fill embankments. The Stage 12 lift to 63 m relative level ("mRL") was completed in 2022. Construction to a final height of 71 mRL will be achieved by a continuation of progressive uplifts (Stages 13 and 14) and will include an additional saddle dam. Water storage and water management is currently performed through construction and progressive improvement of sediment ponds, silt traps, silt fence, drainage systems, re-vegetation works and appropriate bund walls along haul/access roads, and operations of a number of water storage weirs.
Filminera's environmental protection and management programs have been carried out since the commencement of operations. This was guided by the conditions stipulated in the issued Environmental Compliance Certificate ("ECC") and outlined/described in the approved Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program ("EPEP"), including the Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") documents of the Masbate Gold Project to meet all the necessary regulatory and company standards. PGPRC has its own EPEP pursuant to its Mineral Processing Permit, based on conditions stipulated in the same ECC and related documents of the Masbate Gold Project. On January 22, 2019, the Environment Management Bureau approved the amendment to the ECC for the implementation of the Montana expansion project. On December 18, 2019, the Environmental Management Bureau approved further amendment to the ECC to expand the capacity of the gold processing plant to 9 Mtpa. On January 15, 2024, the EMB signed the amended ECC for the implementation of the Blue Quartz-Old Lady expansion project.
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Environmental risk assessments, together with a formal environmental audit and review of compliance with the ECC conditions are also performed periodically by relevant government agencies and through initiatives by Filminera. Independent consultants have also been used to externally validate environmental compliance and program implementation.
Filminera and PGPRC have maintained ISO14001 certification since 2016, and has implemented various environmental monitoring programs, construction/installation of environmental control measures and other initiatives. ISO certification status is maintained on an ongoing basis.
PGPRC holds a Mineral Processing Permit granted by the DENR. The current MPP No. 010-2007-V (third renewal) was issued on December 13, 2021, along with an approved Five-Year Development/Utilization Work Program.
Filminera maintains a comprehensive listing of permitting requirements and key operational documents. The key permits are the MPSAs and the ECC. A Special Land Use Permit was granted for infrastructure construction and operation in forest lands outside the MPSA areas, including portions of the TSF, WRSF HMBE Stage 4, the causeway and the airstrip. Additional permits will be required in support of mining operations at the planned satellite open pits.
Filminera has secured the DENR approval for the consolidation of its MPSA and EP, and the assignment of VMC's MPSAs to Filminera. This enabled Filminera to qualify the planned and future satellite pits as expansion areas for the Masbate Gold Project.
Renewal of permitting and operational documents is an ongoing process, depending on the circumstances of the operation and individual permit requirements. The Masbate Gold Project is also subject to periodic audit by the DENR.
The community relations group is responsible for the establishment and strengthening of relationships with the various stakeholders to obtain and maintain social acceptability of the operations in the area. Stakeholders include the residents of the host and neighboring communities, local government units (provincial, municipal and barangays), national and regional government agencies, media groups, various churches, NGOs, educational institutions, and the Philippine National Police and Military.
Closure and reclamation costs, including a 10-year post-closure monitoring program, are estimated, and updated annually. These costs are revised annually as part of our mine restoration provision. Closure and reclamation costs as at the end of 2024 were estimated at $39.9 million on an undiscounted basis.
Capital and Operating Costs
Capital Costs
Capital costs are based on operational experience and LoM projections. The table below presents the 2025 budgeted costs and the estimated capital costs for the LoM, excluding 2025.
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Capital Cost Estimate
| Area | 2025 Budget <br>(US$ million) | LoM Estimated Cost<br>excluding 2025 <br>(US$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| Site general and infrastructure | 0.2 | 4.4 |
| Mining and processing | 24.2 | 88.0 |
| Closure and rehabilitation | 0.2 | 39.7 |
| Land acquisition | 15.0 | 0.0 |
| Total | 39.6 | 132.1 |
Notes:
Totals have been rounded and may result in apparent summation differences.
The projected LoM for the Masbate Gold Project is approximately four years of mining and approximately 10 years of processing, including 2025.
The capital cost estimates include tailings dam expansions, mining fleet additions, land acquisition for future mining areas and standard sustaining costs for mining and processing, and site general costs. Deferred stripping costs are excluded from the capital cost estimates.
Operating Costs
Budgeted 2025, and estimated LoM operating costs, excluding 2025, are provided in the table below.
Operating Cost Forecast
| Area | Units | 2025 Budget | LoM Estimated Cost<br>excluding 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining | US$/t mined | 1.58 | 2.03 |
| Processing | US$/t processed | 13.38 | 12.72 |
| Site general | US$/t processed | 3.85 | 3.01 |
Notes:
Costs are variable depending on whether ore is classified as low-grade or high-grade, and whether the mill feed is classified as oxide or fresh (primary). Costs are based on whether the material being processed is stockpiled or in situ material.
The processing costs include the ore load and haul costs and some road maintenance costs.
The cut-off grade calculations and optimizations for these costs are not included with the process costs.
The projected LoM for the Masbate Gold Project is approximately four years of mining and approximately 10 years of processing, including 2025.
Operating costs include all mining, processing and site general costs including deferred stripping.
The capital cost estimates and operating cost estimates in the tables above are based on our current estimates and mine plan for the Masbate Gold Project. Costs in subsequent years may vary significantly from our 2025 and LoM cost estimates as a result of, among other things, current or future non-recurring expenditures, changes to input costs and exchange rates and changes to our current mining operations or mine plan. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Ongoing exploration and analyses at operating mines are conducted with a view to estimating additional Mineral Resources and upgrading existing Mineral Resources to higher confidence levels and potentially conversion to Mineral Reserves. If additional Mineral Reserves are estimated, they may alter the current mine plan and potentially extend the mine life.
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Production, Development, and Exploration
The Masbate Gold Project produced 194,046 ounces of gold in 2024. Masbate Gold Project's 2024 annual gold production was 544 ounces higher than 2023, mainly due to higher gold grade and throughput.
For full-year 2024, mill feed grade was 0.96 g/t Au compared to the budget grade of 0.93 g/t Au and 0.97 g/t Au in 2023; mill throughput was 8.60 Mt compared to budget of 7.94 Mt and 8.30 Mt in 2023; and gold recovery averaged 72.8% compared to budget of 76.0% and 74.5% in 2023. Average gold recoveries were below budget in 2024. The mill throughput was well above budget (8.3%) in 2024.
Gold production at the Masbate Gold Project in 2025 is expected to be 170,000 to 190,000 ounces. For 2025, Masbate is budgeted to process a total of 8.0 Mt of ore at an average grade of 0.88 g/t Au with process gold recovery of 79.9%. Mill feed will largely be a blend of mined fresh ore sourced from the Main Vein pit and low-grade ore stockpiles.
Capital expenditures for 2025 at Masbate are expected to total $47 million, of which approximately $30 million is classified as sustaining capital expenditures and $17 million is classified as growth capital expenditures. Sustaining capital expenditures are anticipated to include, amongst other items: $8 million for deferred stripping; $8 million for mining equipment replacement and rebuilds; $6 million for new solar plant, $4 million for process plant and general site expenses, and $5 million for TSF expansion. Growth capital expenditures are anticipated to include $16 million for land acquisition and relocation costs for new open pits.
At Masbate, the 2025 exploration budget is $3 million, and includes approximately 4,200 m of drilling. The program will continue to focus on exploration of new regional targets located south of the main mine infrastructure at Masbate. An additional $2 million will be allocated to targeting new regional projects in highly prospective areas in the Philippines, leveraging off our presence and operational experience in the country. A total of 2,000 m of drilling is planned to test new project areas.
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Otjikoto Mine

Certain portions of the following information are derived from and based on the technical report entitled "Otjikoto Gold Mine, Namibia, NI 43-101 Technical Report" that has an effective date of December 31, 2018, prepared by the following Qualified Persons: Tom Garagan, P. Geo., Peter Montano, P.E., John Rajala, P.E. and Ken Jones, P.E. (the "Otjikoto Report") and is based on the assumptions, qualifications and procedures set out therein. For a more detailed overview of the Otjikoto Mine, please refer to the Otjikoto Report, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Information that post-dates the Otjikoto Report is provided by B2Gold.
Property Description, Location, and Access
The Otjikoto Mine is located in the north-central part of the Republic of Namibia. It is situated approximately 300 km north of Windhoek, the country's capital, within the Otjozondjupa Region. The Otjikoto Mine can be accessed off the main B1 road, a primary paved road, from the towns of Otjiwarongo or Otavi located approximately 70 km to the southwest and 50 km to the northeast of the Otjikoto Mine, respectively.
Mining Licence 169 ("ML169"), covering an area of 6,933.98 ha, was granted for a 20-year term, expiring in December 2032, and renewable for **** further periods, each term not exceeding 15 years. Maintaining ML169 requires payment of an annual fee of N$5,000 and filing of bi-annual environmental reports with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism ("MEFT"), development of a work program, environmental compliance, commitment to seek local suppliers for fuel and lubricants, approval of the product take-off agreement, and payment of taxes by permanent employees in Namibia. Exploration reports must be submitted every two years to the relevant regulatory authority.
Surrounding ML169 is Exclusive Prospecting Licence 2410 ("EPL 2410") with a total area of 26,719.21 ha, which remains valid until May 5, 2025, and can be renewed for an additional two-year term with a reduction in area. Maintaining EPL 2410 requires payment of an annual fee, based on the reduced licence area filing of quarterly and annual exploration reports with the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and filing of bi-annual environmental reports with the MEFT.
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Mining operations on ML169 are conducted under the terms of an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC-2300223) (the "ECC") that is issued by the MEFT. A renewed ECC was issued by the MEFT on March 5, 2023 and remains valid for three years to March 2026. The ECC is issued to undertake mining operations at Otjikoto Gold Mine as per the approved ESIA report and EMP.
B2Gold Namibia (Proprietary) Limited ("B2Gold Namibia"), the holder of ML169 and operator of the Otjikoto Mine, is 90% owned, indirectly, by us and 10% by EVI, a Namibian empowerment company.
In addition, we have purchased and consolidated a number of farms into B2Gold Namibia Property (Pty) Ltd., including the Wolfshag, Otjikoto, Gerhardshausen, Felsenquelle, and Erhardtshof farms. We hold the surface rights through these farms, and all mine infrastructure and the Otjikoto Mine itself are situated within property owned by B2Gold Namibia. No additional surface rights are required to support our mining operations.
The Agricultural and Commercial Land Reform Act (Namibia) levies a land tax, with the rates of such tax determined by reference to the nationality, size of the farm, classifications of the land for agricultural use, activities, and number of farms by a particular owner, as determined by the Ministry of Land Reform. Where exploration activities are conducted on private land owned by third parties, we typically enter into compensation agreements (within the meaning of section 52 of the Namibian Minerals Act (Namibia)) for any land disturbance or inconvenience with such owner.
We hold water permit No. 10971, allowing for 4.0 million cubic metres per annum water extraction from selected groundwater wells subject to certain monitoring and reporting conditions, which has been renewed until February 2026.
The Namibian Minerals Act (Namibia) levies a royalty of 3% on the net sales of gold and silver. A VAT of 15% applies to domestic goods and services and 16.5% to imported goods and services. A refund on the 15% VAT on domestic goods and services is available. The Income Tax Amendment Act, 2015 (Namibia), which inserted a section 35B into the Income Tax Act, 1981 (Namibia), has introduced a 10% withholding tax on interest payable to non-resident lenders.
The Export Levy Act (Namibia) levies an export levy of 1% on the commercial value of the invoice for gold bullion exported.
History
All of the early exploration activity from the 1960s to the late 1990s focused on base metals. Companies involved included Kennecott Exploration Company, Falconbridge Ltd., Tsumeb Corporation, Anglo American plc, and Gold Fields Prospecting. However, only a limited portion of the current licences were held and explored by these companies.
Due to the thickness of cover material, the primary exploration tool was geophysics. Completed surveys included ground and airborne magnetics, IP, time domain EM, controlled source audio magnetotellurics, natural source audio magnetotellurics, and frequency domain EM.
During 1998-1999, Avdale Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, which was originally incorporated as a subsidiary of Anglo American plc, and was subsequently purchased by B2Gold Namibia, drill tested an intense 9 km long linear magnetic feature centered on the Otjikoto farm, and observed visible gold at the base of some RAB drill holes.
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There is no known gold or base metals production prior to our development of the mine. Several small-scale amethyst quarries are present on the property but not in the immediate area of the main deposit. There are no historical estimates that are relevant to the current Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves.
Geological Setting, Mineralization, and Deposit Types
The Otjikoto deposit is located within the Damara Mobile Belt, within the northern portion of the northeasterly-striking "Intracratonic Branch" of the belt and is an example of an orogenic-style gold deposit.
The Otjikoto area is predominantly underlain by lithologies belonging to the Neoproterozoic Swakop Group. The Okonguarri Formation hosts the gold mineralization and is overlain and underlain by glacial diamictite horizons of the Ghaub and Chuos Formations, respectively. The Okonguarri Formation consists primarily of thick units of dark grey carbonaceous marble, biotite-schist, graphitic schist, and calc-silicate horizons. The schist units are derived from semi-pelitic, pelitic, marl and psammitic units in a turbiditic sedimentary package. The rocks in the Otjikoto area have experienced at least three phases of moderate to tight folding and some thrust faulting. They have also been affected by extensive metasomatism, followed by prograde regional metamorphism that has reached upper greenschist to lower amphibolite facies.
Mineralization in the main Otjikoto deposit is hosted by a north-northeast striking sheeted sulphide (+ magnetite)-quartz + carbonate vein system that has a strike length of about 2.6 km and extends at depth to at least 475 m below surface. The gold occurs in a series of thin (commonly <10 cm) sheeted veins in the Upper and Middle Okonguarri Formation. The veins and associated mineralization form a series of en-echelon zones oriented at approximately 010-020° north-northeast and plunging at 10-15° (average 12°) to the south-southwest. Vein concentrations range from one to 30 veins per metre, with a higher vein concentration within the Central and West shoots. Gold occurs within the vein system as coarse native gold particles that can vary from 5-400 µm, averaging about 100 µm in size. Mineralization remains open down plunge as presently tested.
Mineralization in the adjacent Wolfshag deposit occurs as a series of south-southwest-plunging shoots of mineralization coincident with the hinge zones of the tight folding of several marble and clastic metasedimentary horizons. Mineralization is associated with generally concordant (bedding parallel) vein zones that are principally hosted within an altered meta-sandstone unit. The mineralized zone is about 2.1 km long and has been intersected by drilling for about 2,000 m down plunge to a depth of 750 m below surface. The deposit consists of a series of fold-duplicated mineralized zones alphabetically subdivided from WA to WE into either west-northwest or east-southeast-verging fold closure zones. HG shoots within the mineralised zones are associated with parasitic folds occurring within the larger fold structure. The shoots plunge at 15-20° to the south-southwest, sub-parallel to the Otjikoto deposit shoots.
Gold mineralization can be vein-hosted or represent replacement or disseminated styles. Mineralization at both Otjikoto and Wolfshag zones remains open at depth down plunge to the southwest.
The OTG shoot was identified as a down dip extension of the Otjikoto OTC Zone, which hosts the Otjikoto deposit. The geometry, continuity, and grade potential of the OTG shoot was tested with several core drill holes in 2021. Gold is associated with pyrrhotite, pyrite and magnetite and hosted in chlorite- and garnet-bearing quartz-carbonate veins. The geometry is similar to that of the HG shoots of Otjikoto and Wolfshag and is associated with parasitic folds. Continuity was proven over 800 m plunge length. The shoot occurs within 150 m of the Wolfshag underground development. The OTG shoot plunges at 15-20° to the south-southwest, sub-parallel to the Wolfshag ore shoots.
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Discovered in 2022, following deep drill testing on three-dimensional models of magnetic inversion data, the Antelope deposit may consist of as many as three separate mineralized structures, of which the southernmost Springbok zone has been defined by 50 x 50 m spaced drilling, over a strike length of approximately 1,000 m. Mineralization has a dip of extent of approximately 150 m and with an average thickness of 8 m. Northeast, along strike of Springbok, a similar style of HG mineralization has been intersected in the Oryx zone, which appears to represent a second shoot, stacked stratigraphically above Springbok. Overall, mineralization has been intersected by drilling over a combined plunge of approximately 2,000 m. The Antelope deposit mineralization is characterized by sheeted quartz-pyrrhotite veins, which have been overprinted by deformation focused along two main marble beds that serve as major stratigraphic markers in the Otjikoto stratigraphy. The shoot-like geometry of the Antelope deposit mineralization derives, in part, from the thickening of quartz-pyrrhotite-gold mineralization in the hinge zones of centimetre- to metre-scale folds, a structural control that is well documented in the Otjikoto Mine. Mineralized shoots plunge shallowly north-northeast, suggesting a subtle inflection in the stratigraphy that hosts the Otjikoto deposit, where ore zones plunge shallowly south-southwest. Mineralization in each of the respective shoots remains open along the plunge direction.
Exploration
Exploration activities completed by us include geological mapping, geochemical soil sampling, airborne geophysical surveys (Aster satellite imagery, electromagnetics, magnetics, radiometrics), and ground geophysical surveys (magnetics, IP).
Exploration work is ongoing, with a focus on infilling and extending the known mineralization in the Antelope deposit.
Our current and planned exploration activities are discussed under the heading "Production, Development, and Exploration" below*.*
Drilling
Drilling has been completed in support of exploration evaluations, Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates, mine planning, geotechnical and hydrogeological evaluations, and infrastructure site sterilization (condemnation drilling). Drilling as at December 31, 2024 near the Otjikoto Mine consists of 3,204 core, RC, and RAB drill holes (463,213 m).
Drilling used to support the August 2021 update of the Otjikoto Mineral Resource model includes 1,219 core holes (281,064 m) and 456 RC holes (38,654 m). Drilling used to support the Wolfshag Open Pit Mineral Resource model (built in 2018) includes 447 core holes (121,248 m) and 24 RC holes (1,596 m). No RAB drilling is used in estimation.
Drilling used to support the Wolfshag Underground Mineral Resource model (built in 2024) includes 776 core holes (104,294 m).
Drilling used to support the Antelope deposit Mineral Resource model includes 107 core holes (59,480 m), completed between February 12, 2022 and November 5, 2024.
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Sieved RAB samples, RC chips, and core are logged. Core is photographed, and recoveries are recorded. Drill hole collar locations are surveyed by a contract professional land surveyor. Down-hole surveys are performed at regular down-hole intervals using Reflex Ez-shot instrumentation.
Current and planned drilling is summarized under the heading "Production, Development, and Exploration" below.
Sampling, Analysis, and Data Verification
RC samples are collected at 1 m intervals in plastic bags using a cyclone and split at the drill site using a riffle splitter. The split samples are transported to the core yard, where they are further split to produce an assay sample, a field duplicate, and a reference sample. Core is primarily sampled based on geological logging. Sample intervals range from 0.4-1.7 m, but samples are typically about 1 m in length. Mineralized and altered segments and adjacent wall rock are sampled cutting the core in half using a core saw. RC GC samples are collected on 2 m intervals. The majority of the sampling on the project was done at 1 m sample intervals.
For most of the historic exploration programs, ALS Minerals Okahandja, Namibia or ALS Johannesburg were used for sample preparation, ALS Johannesburg for primary analysis, and the Otjikoto Mine laboratory or ALS Chemex in Vancouver, Canada as the check laboratories. All laboratories except the mine laboratory have accreditations for selected analytical techniques and are independent from B2Gold. The ALS Minerals sample preparation laboratory in Okahandja is visited about once a month to confirm samples are being prepared to the set specifications. The ALS Johannesburg laboratory is annually audited by an external consultant.
For the current exploration program at the Antelope deposit most of the samples are prepared and analyzed at the Otjikoto mine laboratory using the Leachwell method. By this method, the entire sample is dried at 105°C for four hours, then crushed to 100% passing 4 mm and 87% passing 2 mm, and riffle split to obtain the analysis sample. The analysis sample was originally kept at around 2 kg, but later changed to half of the entire sample, to ensure sufficient material is available for check assays. The sample split is pulverized to 90% passing 106µm. Several tailings of the leaching process are selected for fire assay. A selection of the remaining coarse rejects are periodically sent for external checks at ALS Okahandja for preparation and ALS Johannesburg for screen fire assay analysis including different grade bins. Before changing from screen fire assays to Leachwell analysis, internal and external studies were carried out by the mine laboratory in 2017-2018, as well as an external check by ALS in 2021 for Otjikoto ore samples. These studies tested the rate of dissolution for coarse gold, the effect of high iron or sulphide on the leach, as well as the influence that different rock types could have on leach kinetics and solution recovery. A direct comparison of Antelope deposit screen fire assays from ALS and Leachwell analysis was conducted at the mine laboratory on four drill holes, before proceeding to routine use of Leachwell analysis on the Antelope deposit core in 2023.
Early sample preparation consisted of drying, crushing to -2 mm, and pulverizing to 106 μm. The protocol was modified due to the nuggety nature of the gold mineralization to capture both the +106 μm and -106 μm fractions for analysis. Gold grades are determined using a screen fire assay methodology with either an atomic absorption (<10 ppm gold) or gravimetric finish (>10 ppm gold). In addition to gold assays, a multi-element suite of 22 elements can be requested for exploration assays. Sulphur and carbon are also assayed for, using either a LECO or similar carbon and sulphur analyzer.
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Density determinations are regularly performed by site personnel on whole core samples using the water displacement method. Very early in the project, specific gravity measurements were made by pycnometer testing; these measurements are not used for tonnage reporting.
QA/QC measures include regular insertion of certified reference materials, field duplicates, and blank sample materials prior to submission of samples to the laboratory to monitor laboratory accuracy, precision, and sample sequencing. QA/QC sample insertion rates are typically at the rate of 1:20 but can be at 1:38 for selected sample types. QA/QC data are reviewed on a continuous basis.
Sample security measures included moving RC and core samples from the drill site to our secure core yard in Otjiwarongo. Sample shipments are tracked using industry-standard procedures. We are of the opinion that the core storage is secure because access to the Otjiwarongo core yard is strictly controlled and a B2Gold representative has always been present in the core yard. Much of the core is now stored in an open-sided shed built on the mine property.
Data imported into the project database are subject to validation, which includes checks on surveys, collar co-ordinates, lithology data, and assay data. The checks are appropriate, and consistent with industry norms. No material issues with the project database including sampling protocols, flowsheets, check analysis program or data storage have been identified to date from the checks performed. The project database is acceptable for use in Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimation and can be used to support mine planning.
Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing
Metallurgical test work for the Otjikoto deposit has been primarily performed by SGS Lakefield. Additional testing facilities included Jenike & Johanson (materials handling), Rocklab (unconfined compressive strength tests), CANMET (leach optimization), FLS-Knelson (gravity concentration and intensive leach tests). Laboratories performing test work on the Wolfshag deposit include SGS Lakefield (gravity/leaching recovery, comminution, mineralogy/gold deportment, rheology, cyanide destruction, tailings characterization), SGS Beckley (unconfined compressive strength tests), and FLSmidth (Bond low-energy impact test).
Completed test work included materials handling, comminution, grind circuit modelling, unconfined compressive strength tests, bulk mineralogy, chemical composition and mineralogy, leach and gravity tests, leach optimization, leach variability tests, carbon adsorption test work and modelling, cyanide destruction test work, gravity concentration and intensive leach test work, sedimentation and rheological tests, tailings characterization, bench scale sedimentation tests, and environmental and geotechnical testing.
Samples selected for metallurgical testing were representative of the various types and styles of mineralization within the different zones. Average LoM gold recoveries were initially estimated to be 95.6%. During operations, the process plant has been optimized, and is reliably achieving recoveries >98%. The Wolfshag and Otjikoto ores are therefore expected to support average LoM gold metallurgical recoveries of approximately 98%.
There are no known deleterious elements that incur penalties in the doré. There are also no known elements in the material to be treated that may cause plant processing issues.
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Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates
Mineral Resources
Mineral Resource estimates are reported from three block models, the combined Otjikoto and Wolfshag open pit model, the Wolfshag underground model and the Antelope underground model. The Otjikoto and Wolfshag open pit models were built in 2021 and 2018, respectively, and combined into one model for Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve pit shell runs and reporting. The Wolfshag underground model was built in 2024 and the Antelope model was built in February 2025.
Otjikoto Model
For the Otjikoto deposit, mineralized zones **** were created using lithology, vein percent, sulphide abundance and gold grade at a nominal 0.2 g/t Au cut-off. Mineralized zone wireframes were identified by stratigraphic unit in which they occur. Using logged rock type and oxidation from exploration drill holes, surfaces were created for the base of calcrete, transition, oxide and mixed. The bottom of calcrete surface was used as a top to the mineralized zone wireframes. Metallurgical domains are defined by oxidation state and dominant sulphide composition (pyrite/pyrrhotite). Bulk densities applied to the Otjikoto block model vary by lithology, mineralization, and oxidation state, ranging from 2.43 tonnes per cubic meter ("t/m^3^") in hardpan to 2.84 t/m^3^ in sulphide-mineralized albitite.
For the Otjikoto mineralized domains, capping ranged from 4-25 g/t Au. Down-hole composites were set at 2 m lengths. Otjikoto gold grades were estimated using OK. Model validation was performed using visual and statistical checks and reconciliation to GC models. No Measured Mineral Resources were classified. For Otjikoto, drill spacing for Indicated Mineral Resources is nominally 25 x 50 m and for Inferred Mineral Resources is up to 100 x 100 m.
Wolfshag Model
For the Wolfshag deposit, two nested shells were created based on a combination of grade and vein intensity. These were a LG domain at a nominal 0.2 g/t Au, and a HG domain at a nominal 1 g/t Au. For the open pit model, only the LG domain was used as a boundary in the gold grade estimate. A stratigraphic/structural model was created based on all available geological data. Within each of the modeled stratigraphic units, lithology was assigned by interpolating indicators for each major rock type. Weathering and oxidation surfaces were created from simplified drill logs. Metallurgical domains are defined by oxidation state and dominant sulphide composition. For Wolfshag, densities were interpolated where sufficient data was available. Bulk densities range from 1.9 t/m^3^ in soil to 2.98 t/m^3^ in some of the Wolfshag HG zones.
For Wolfshag, capping values ranged from 1 g/t Au in marble/waste, 5-16g/t in LG zones, and 12-50 g/t Au in HG zones. Down-hole composites were set at 2 m lengths. Wolfshag grades for the open pit model were estimated using OK. Model validation was performed using visual and statistical checks and reconciliation to GC models. No Measured Mineral Resources were classified. For Wolfshag, drill spacing for Indicated Mineral Resources is generally 25 x 25 m (with some 25 x 50m spacing) and for Inferred Mineral Resources drill spacing is generally 50 x 100 m.
Combined Otjikoto and Wolfshag Open Pit Model
The Otjikoto and Wolfshag open pit sub-cell models were combined into one sub-celled model which was reblocked to a single block size of 6 x 12 x 3.3333 m using whole-block averaging. The combined re-blocked model was used for mine planning work.
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Wolfshag Underground Model
The down-plunge extension of the Wolfshag mineralization is the area from which underground Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves are reported. The model uses nested HG and LG domains at nominal 0.1 g/t Au and 1.0 g/t Au respectively. Gold grades were estimated using ID3 with the HG and LG domains used as hard boundaries for grade estimation. Block model checks included visual review of block grades relative to composite grades, comparison of block model grades to the declustered composites and swath plots. No Measured Mineral Resources were reported. Indicated Mineral Resources were classified based on a maximum drill spacing of 25 x 25 m and Inferred Mineral Resources were classified based on a maximum drill spacing of 50 x 100 m.
Antelope Underground Model
Two nested shells at nominal 0.1 g/t Au for the low-grade or "Halo" domain and 1.0 g/t Au for the HG domain. Gold grades were estimated using ID3 with the HG and Halo domains used as hard boundaries for grade estimation. Block model checks included visual review of block grades relative to composite grades, comparison of block model grades to the declustered composites and swath plots. No Measured or Indicated Mineral Resources were reported. Inferred Mineral Resources were classified based on a maximum drill spacing of 50 x 50 m.
The Antelope model was updated in February 2025 subsequent to the June 2024 model that informed the PEA. The new model incorporates additional drilling and resources are reported using cut-off grades and stopes that are based on updated costs and assumptions.
The preliminary results of a positive PEA on the Antelope deposit includes an initial LoM of five years, an average grade of 5.57 g/t and production LoM of approximately 327,000 oz with an average gold recovery of 95%. The PEA is preliminary in nature and is based on Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the engineering and economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA based on these Mineral Resources will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Otjikoto, Wolfshag, and Antelope Reporting
Mineral Resources considered potentially amenable to open pit mining methods were constrained within a conceptual pit shell and are stated above a cut-off of 0.25 g/t Au. Mineral Resources are reported above a cut-off grade that is supported by estimated LoM cost data and a higher gold price assumption ($2,100/oz).
Mineral Resources considered amenable to underground mining methods are located outside the pits used for reporting open pit Mineral Reserves, and any block above a cut-off of 1.5 g/t Au that is within the underground design for material considered amenable to long-hole stoping. Additional underground resources are reported from blocks outside the underground design within the WA zone and above a cut-off grade of 1.9 g/t Au or within the other mineralized zones and above a cut-off grade of 2.5 g/t Au. The cut-off grades are based on underground engineering and cost studies.
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Due to the depth of the Antelope deposit, it is considered amenable to underground mining. Resources are reported at a cut-off of 2.5 g/t Au and within optimized stopes created using the same cutoff.
Mineral Resource Estimate
The Mineral Resource estimate for Otjikoto accounts for mining depletion as at December 31, 2024. The Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of December 31, 2024.
Otjikoto Indicated Mineral Resources Statement
| Area | 100% Project Basis | Attributable Ownership Basis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | GoldGrade<br>(g/t Au) | ContainedGold<br>Ounces<br>(x 1,000) | Attributable<br>(%) | ContainedGold Ounces<br>(x 1,000) | |
| Otjikoto Open Pit | 16,890 | 0.77 | 420 | 90 | 370 |
| Wolfshag Open Pit | 200 | 0.61 | 4 | 90 | 4 |
| Wolfshag Underground | 950 | 5.79 | 180 | 90 | 160 |
| LG Stockpile | 21,790 | 0.42 | 290 | 90 | 260 |
| ROM Stockpile | 340 | 2.81 | 31 | 90 | 28 |
| Total Indicated Mineral Resources | 40,180 | 0.71 | 920 | ****** | 830 |
Otjikoto Inferred Mineral Resources Statement
| Area | 100% Project Basis | Attributable Ownership Basis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | GoldGrade<br>(g/t Au) | Contained Gold<br>Ounces<br>(x 1,000) | Attributable<br>(%) | ContainedGold Ounces<br>(x 1,000) | |
| Otjikoto Open Pit | 3,140 | 0.58 | 59 | 90 | 53 |
| Wolfshag Open Pit | 900 | 0.75 | 22 | 90 | 19 |
| Wolfshag Underground | 820 | 5.08 | 130 | 90 | 120 |
| Antelope Underground | 2,580 | 5.62 | 470 | 90 | 420 |
| Total Inferred Mineral Resources | 7,440 | 2.84 | 680 | **** | 610 |
Notes:
Mineral Resources have been classified using the CIM Standards. Mineral Resources are reported in situ or in stockpiles, inclusive of those Mineral Resources that have been modified to Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and a 90% attributable basis, the remaining 10% interest is held by EVI, a Namibian empowerment company.
The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration.
The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource in stockpile estimates is Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects.
The Mineral Resource estimate for Otjikoto accounts for mining depletion as at December 31, 2024. The Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of December 31, 2024.
Mineral Resource estimates that are amenable to open pit mining methods are reported within a conceptual open pit shell based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 98%, selling costs of US$87.02/oz including royalties and levies, and operating cost estimates of US$3.26/t mined (mining), US$13.92/t processed (processing) and US$3.96/t processed (site general).
Mineral Resources that are potentially amenable to open pit mining are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t Au. Mineral Resources that are potentially amenable to underground mining are reported at cut-off grades of 1.5, 1.90 or 2.50 g/t Au and a minimum diluted thickness of 4.0 m. Underground resource reporting assumes a gold price of US$2,100/oz Au, process recovery of 98%, variable mining costs by mining method of US$75.76-140.46/t mined, processing cost of US$18.84/t processed, and a selling cost of US$87.94/oz Au produced.
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- All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.
Factors that may affect the Mineral Resource estimates include changes to: metal price assumptions; assumptions used to generate the gold cut-off grade; local interpretations of mineralization geometry and continuity of mineralized zones; geological and mineralization shape and geological and grade continuity assumptions; density and domain assignments; geotechnical, mining and metallurgical recovery assumptions; the input and design parameter assumptions that pertain to the conceptual pit constraining the estimates; and our assumptions as to the continued ability to access the site, retain mineral and surface rights titles, and maintain the social licence to operate.
Mineral Reserves
Indicated Mineral Resources were converted to Probable Mineral Reserves following consideration of relevant Modifying Factors. Mineral Reserve estimation was based on the LoM pit, underground mine, and WRSF designs and mine and mill production schedules.
The Mineral Reserve estimate for Otjikoto accounts for mining depletion as at December 31, 2024 and costs based on the LoM plan and 2025 budget. The Mineral Reserve estimate has an effective date of December 31, 2024. Mineral Reserve estimates for the Otjikoto Mine have been modified from the Indicated Mineral Resources. No Proven Mineral Reserves have been reported.
Otjikoto Probable Mineral Reserves Statement
| Area | 100% Project Basis | Attributable Ownership Basis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | GoldGrade<br>(g/t Au) | ContainedGold<br>Ounces<br>(x 1,000) | Attributable<br>(%) | Contained GoldOunces<br>(x 1,000) | |
| Wolfshag Underground | 1,000 | 3.38 | 110 | 90 | 100 |
| ROM Stockpiles | 300 | 2.81 | 30 | 90 | 30 |
| Total Probable Mineral Reserves | 1,300 | 3.24 | 140 | 90 | 120 |
Notes:
Mineral Reserves have been classified using the CIM Standards, are reported at the point of delivery to the process plant, and have an effective date of December 31, 2024.
Mineral Reserves are reported on a 100% project and a 90% attributable basis, the remaining 10% interest is held by EVI, a Namibian empowerment company.
The Qualified Person for the Mineral Reserve estimate is Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects.
Mineral Reserves from stockpiles are based on a gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 98%, selling costs of US$73.94/oz including royalties and levies, average processing cost of US$12.97/t processed, and site general costs of US$3.95/t processed. Mineral Reserves in stockpiles are reported above a cut-off grade of 0.45 g/t Au.
Mineral Reserves that will be mined by underground methods assume a modified transverse longhole stoping mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 98%, selling costs of US$73.94/oz including royalties and levies, average mining cost of US$92.26/t ore mined, average processing cost of US$12.97/t processed, general costs of US$5.87/t processed, 22% dilution, and 90% mining recovery. Mineral Reserves that will be mined by underground methods are reported above a cut-off grade of 2.11 g/t Au.
All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.
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Factors that may affect the Mineral Reserve estimates include changes to: gold price, pit slope and geotechnical, hydrogeological and pit dewatering assumptions; inputs to capital and operating cost estimates; operating cost assumptions used in the constraining pit shell; pit designs from those currently envisaged; modifying factor assumptions, including environmental, permitting, and social licence to operate; and stockpiling assumptions as to the amount and grade of stockpile material.
Mining Operations
The Otjikoto Mine is currently an owner-operated conventional open pit operation. Development of the Wolfshag underground mine commenced in late 2020, and ore production commenced in the second half of 2022. The Wolfshag underground mine uses a mining contractor.
Mining of open pit Mineral Reserves from the Otjikoto open pit was completed in 2024. Non-reserve production from Phase 5 of the Otjikoto open pit is ongoing and expected to be completed in late 2025. The current underground mine plan projects that Mineral Reserves will be mined from the Wolfshag deposit for approximately two more years including 2025. Reserve mill production is scheduled for a total of two years, including 2025. The Otjikoto ultimate open pit will be 2.8-3.0 km in length and will have separate pit bottoms for the Otjikoto and Wolfshag deposits. Our mine life estimate is based on current Mineral Reserves, with non-reserve mining from a planned fifth phase of the Otjikoto open pit if supported by mining costs and gold prices at the time. This fifth phase contains approximately 130,000 ounces of Indicated Mineral Resources that have not been converted to Mineral Reserves that are planned for mining in 2025. Mineral Resources in LG stockpiles may be processed at the end of mine life, or when higher-grade tonnage is not available, depending on current costs and gold prices. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Pit slopes vary by geotechnical domain, with inter-ramp slope angles ranging from 30-60º. Bench heights also vary by geotechnical domain, from 10-20 m. Reserve model dilution and ore loss were applied through whole block averaging such that both dilution and ore losses are variable. A nominal ramp and road width of 27 m, including drainage and safety windrow, was used for dual lane truck operation in the mine design. Ramp widths were reduced to 20 m in the lower levels of the phase designs to allow for single lane haulage on the final benches. Ramp grades were designed to a maximum of 10%.
The Wolfshag underground mine is accessed via a single 930 m long decline at a maximum gradient of 15%, that was collared from the east wall of the Otjikoto open pit in the third quarter of 2020. The ventilation system relies on a 4.0 m diameter raise bored ventilation raise and surface fans to supply 175 cubic meters per second of fresh air to the underground workings. The mining method is modified transverse longhole stoping with cemented rock fill and uncemented rock fill. Planned stope dimensions are approximately 14-18 m wide by 16-25 m high by 15-35 m long, depending on orebody geometry and geotechnical conditions. Underground dewatering is be accomplished using both surface dewatering borehole(s) and underground pumping infrastructure.
Initial development was completed in 2022 before underground stoping production commenced in the second half of 2022, with a producing life of approximately four years thereafter, based on Mineral Reserves. Steady-state underground production of 1,100 stope ore tonnes per day was achieved in the first half of 2023. Mine production relies on conventional mechanized trackless mining equipment. Haul trucks will be used for material transport and used to transport mine backfill on the back-haul. Waste dilution is estimated at 22% with a mining recovery of 90%.
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Mining from the non-reserve Otjikoto Phase 5 of the open pit will be completed in 2025, moving approximately 6.5 Mt total in the year. The current LoM plan assumes processing of up to 21.8 Mt from the Indicated Mineral Resource low-grade stockpile when higher-grade feed is not available, with an average gold grade of 0.42 g/t Au. This stockpile has similar grades to the break-even processing cut-off grade at the Mineral Reserve gold price ($1,750/oz Au), so processing of this stockpile will be determined when processing capacity is available. The low-grade stockpile has been classified as Indicated Mineral Resources but has not been converted to Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The mining operations are scheduled to work 365 days a year, with reduced production rates during the rainy season. The open pit equipment fleet is based on 90 t capacity haul trucks that are conventional for the industry, providing relative flexibility in the utilisation as several pit stages will be mined simultaneously to mine waste and ore at different levels. The mill feed ore is transported from open pits to the ROM pad for direct tipping or stockpiling. It is assumed that up to 75% of the ROM feed will be stockpiled to regulate the mine production and crusher feed rates.
A large WRSF is located west of the Otjikoto and Wolfshag open pits. Location considerations were based on minimizing haulage, surface water drainage and area availability. The facility is being progressively rehabilitated to the extent practical during operations, with lower bench perimeter slopes being constructed to their final, closure configuration. The overall slope design of the WRSF consists of a concave slope with a slope angle of 14° for the bottom half and a slope angle of 18° for the upper half of the overall slope.
Processing and Recovery Operations
Design assumptions were based on the metallurgical test work described under the heading "– Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing" above.
The mill uses a conventional flowsheet whereby gold is recovered by gravity concentration/intensive leaching and by a cyanide leach/CIP process for treatment of gravity tailings. The process flowsheet consists of: crushing; grinding; gravity concentration and intensive cyanidation; cyanide leaching of gravity tailings; CIP; cyanide destruction; tailings disposal; acid wash and elution; electrowinning and gold room; carbon regeneration; reagents make-up and distribution; and air services and plant water services.
No market studies are currently relevant as the Otjikoto Mine is an operating mine producing a readily saleable commodity in the form of doré. Doré produced is exported to the Rand Refinery in South Africa for refining.
Infrastructure, Permitting, and Compliance Activities
The infrastructure established at the Otjikoto Mine is described in the Otjikoto Report, and includes the process plant, TSF, accommodation camp, roads, airstrip, mine services area, open pits, stockpiles, and WRSFs.
Tailings are deposited in the TSF using the upstream method. The TSF was originally designed to contain at least 36 Mt of tailings at a deposition rate of 3.0 Mtpa. Subsequent analysis and design have expanded the capacity of the TSF to approximately 50 Mt, which will support operations to the end of mine life.
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All water falling directly on the industrial areas (contact water) or otherwise in contact with the mining operations (water within the open pit, water return, and storm water from the TSF) is captured, stored, and used in the mining and processing facilities. The storm water dam is designed to hold all water falling on the processing facility terrace during a 24-hour, 1:50 year rainfall event. Two water storage dams have been constructed. One is the reclaim process water dam, which receives water from the TSF and supplies this water to the process plant; the second is the pit dewatering dam that provides water for dust suppression and the process plant.
Site power is primarily supplied through the public Namibian grid. In addition, power is produced on site by the 6 MW Otjikoto solar plant (the "Otjikoto Solar Plant"). If needed, on site HFO generators may supply 15 MW (plus backup units and load balancing capability) of electricity.
Materials and consumables are transported to site via the B1 national highway. Within the mine, gravel or dirt roads are used for internal site access.
An ESIA that included an Environmental Management Plan ("EMP") and Mine Closure Framework was completed for the Otjikoto Mine in July 2012. B2Gold received the first environmental clearance certificate (ECC) for the Otjikoto Project in August 2012 based on the ESIA. Subsequently, several amendments to the 2012 ECC have occurred. The current Otjikoto Mine's ECC (ECC 2300223) was renewed in November 2022 to include all preceding amendments and is valid until March 2026. A consolidated EMP (EMP-2021) of all existing activities and associated impacts related to the operational and decommissioning phases of the Otjikoto Mine operations has been submitted with the 2021 ECC renewal application. The EMP and its supporting individual Management Plans are "living documents" that will continue to be amended periodically throughout the life of the project to reflect changes in parameters such as procedures, practices, and project phases.
A draft Mine Closure Plan was developed in 2018 and submitted to regulatory authorities. The Mine Closure Plan was subsequently approved on August 2, 2019. An updated Mine Closure and Rehabilitation Plan was submitted to the regulatory authorities in December 2024.
We hold all required permits to conduct the open pit and Wolfshag underground operations.
Closure and reclamation costs are estimated and updated annually. Closure and reclamation costs at the end of 2024 were estimated at US$27.9 million on an undiscounted basis.
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Capital and Operating Costs
Capital Costs
Capital costs are based on operational experience and LoM projections. The table below presents the 2025 budgeted costs and the estimated capital costs for the LoM, excluding 2025.
Capital Cost Estimate
| Area | 2025 Budget <br>(US$ million) | LoM Estimated Cost<br>excluding 2025<br>(US$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| Site general and infrastructure | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Mining and processing | 12.3 | 12.6 |
| Closure and rehabilitation | 2.2 | 19.6 |
| Total | 14.8 | 32.7 |
Notes:
Totals have been rounded and may result in apparent summation differences.
The projected LoM for the Otjikoto Mine is one year of non-reserve open pit mining, two years of underground mining, and eight years of processing including 2025.
Capital cost estimates are primarily closure costs, with a small amount planned for standard rebuild and other capital projects for mining, processing, and site general costs. Deferred stripping costs are excluded from capital cost estimates.
Operating Costs
Budgeted 2025 and estimated LoM operating costs, excluding 2025, are provided in the table below.
Operating Cost Forecast
| Area | Units | 2025 Budget | LoM Estimated Cost<br>excluding 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining (open pit) | US$/t mined | 5.41 | - |
| Mining (underground) | US$/t mined | 67.35 | 77.88 |
| Processing | US$/t processed | 13.99 | 12.77 |
| Site general | US$/t processed | 3.95 | 2.46 |
Note:
- The projected LoM for the Otjikoto Mine is one year of non-reserve open pit mining, two years of underground mining, and eight years of processing, including 2025.
Operating costs include all mining, processing and site general costs including deferred stripping and underground development.
Ongoing exploration and analyses at operating mines are conducted with a view to estimating additional Mineral Resources and upgrading existing Mineral Resources to higher confidence levels and potentially conversion to Mineral Reserves. If additional Mineral Reserves are estimated, they may alter the current mine plan and potentially extend the mine life.
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The capital cost estimates and operating cost estimates in the tables above under the heading "Capital and Operating Costs" are based on our current estimates and mine plan for the Otjikoto Mine. Our costs in subsequent years may vary significantly from our 2025 and LoM cost estimates as a result of, among other things, current or future non-recurring expenditures, changes to input costs and exchange rates and changes to our current mining operations or mine plan.
Production, Development, and Exploration
The Otjikoto Mine produced 198,142 ounces of gold in 2024, exceeding budget by 8,142 ounces.
Mill throughput for 2024 was 3.34 Mt at an average grade of 1.87 g/t Au, with an average gold recovery of 98.6%, compared to mill throughput in 2023 of 3.44 Mt at an average grade of 1.9 g/t Au and an average gold recovery of 98.6%.
The Otjikoto Mine is forecast to produce 165,000 to 185,000 ounces of gold total in 2025, including approximately 130,000 ounces of non-reserve production from the Otjikoto Open Pit, and the remainder from the Wolfshag underground mine. For 2025, the Otjikoto Mine is budgeted to process a total of 3.4 Mt of ore at an average grade of 1.63 g/t Au with process gold recovery of 98.0%. In the first half of 2025, processed material will be sourced from the Otjikoto open pit and the Wolfshag underground mine, supplemented by existing medium-grade and high-grade stockpiles. Open pit mining operations are scheduled to conclude in 2025, while underground mining operations at Wolfshag will continue through 2026.
Capital expenditures in 2025 at the Otjikoto Mine are expected to total $39 million, of which approximately $29 million is classified as sustaining capital expenditures and $10 million is classified as growth capital expenditures. Sustaining capital expenditures include the $16 million for deferred underground development, $7 million for the TSF, and $6 million for mining equipment rebuilds. Growth capital includes $10 million for development of the Antelope deposit.
A total of $7 million is budgeted for exploration at Otjikoto in 2025. The focus of the exploration program will be drilling to expand and refine the recently discovered Antelope deposit, located approximately 3 km south of Phase 5 of the Otjikoto open pit, with a total of 44,000 m of drilling contemplated for the year.
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Goose Project

Certain portions of the following information are derived from and based on the technical report entitled "Goose Project and Back River District, Nunavut, NI 43-101 Technical Report" that has an effective date of December 31, 2024 (the "Goose Project Report"), prepared by the following Qualified Persons: Mr. Andrew Brown, P.Geo., Mr. Peter Montano, P.E., Mr. John Rajala, P.E., Mr. Ken Jones, P.E., Mr. Michael Meyers, P.Eng., Mr. William Lytle, P.E., and Mr. Ali El Takch, P.Eng., and is based on the assumptions, qualifications and procedures set out therein. For a more detailed overview of the Goose Project, please refer to the Goose Project Report, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Information that post-dates the Goose Project Report is provided by B2Gold.
Unless the context otherwise requires, where used herein: “Goose Project”: encompasses the Goose Claims Group, Goose Mine, the WIR and the MLA; “Back River District”: comprises 11 claims groups (including the Goose Claims Group and George Claims Group); each of which consists of a group of contiguous mineral claims, and/or leases, and/or exploration permits; “Goose Mine”: refers to the mining operation being developed within the Goose Claims Group, and includes the open pits, the underground mine, and the on-site infrastructure such as the waste rock storage facilities, tailings storage facilities, power infrastructure, and process plant; “Goose Claims Group”: contains the Mineral Resource estimates for the Umwelt, Llama, Goose Main, Echo, Nuvuyak, Goose Neck South deposits, and the Mineral Reserve estimates for the Umwelt, Llama, Goose Main, and Echo deposits, and the Goose Mine; and “George Claims Group”: contains the Mineral Resource estimates for the Locale 1, Locale 2, LCP North, LCP South, Tupiq, and GH deposits.
The Back River District and all mineral tenure are wholly-owned by B2Gold Back River Corp. (also referred to as "B2Gold Nunavut"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of B2Gold Corp.
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Property Description, Location, and Access
The Back River District is situated within the West Kitikmeot region of southwestern Nunavut. The Goose Mine is situated approximately 400 km southwest of Cambridge Bay, 95 km southeast of the southern end of Bathurst Inlet, and 520 km northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
The MLA is located on southern Bathurst Inlet, approximately 130 km directly north-northwest of the Goose Mine. The shipping season is restricted to the period of no sea ice, generally late summer, from approximately August to mid-October. Goose Project access is primarily by air; all-weather airstrips were constructed at the Goose Mine and MLA sites. An approximately 163 km long WIR is constructed each year from the Goose Mine to the MLA. The duration that the ice road can be used depends on winter ice conditions, and varies on a year-to-year basis.
Mineral tenure in Nunavut is split between the Government of Canada (the Crown) and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, as a result of the creation of the territory from the Nunavut Agreement, signed May 25, 1993 which came into force April 1, 1999 creating the territory of Nunavut.
The Back River District comprises 11 mineral claims groups that collectively cover approximately 96,150 ha. One licence is held on Inuit Owned Lands: Mineral Exploration Area BB13-21-001, which is valid for a 20-year term, expiring on July 30, 2032. The Back River District also includes 57 federal mining leases, and 35 federal mineral claims managed by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Leases are valid for 21 years and are renewable. Annual reports are delivered to the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, the Nunavut Impact Review Board, and the Nunavut Water Board as per the terms and conditions of authorizations issued for work completed on the Goose Project. All mining tenure is currently in good standing.
Surface rights in Nunavut mining regulations authorize activities such as prospecting, exploration, and surface-level operations on both Inuit Owned Land and Crown land. These rights do not include access to or extraction of subsurface minerals, which are governed separately by mineral rights. These are issued by the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the Nunavut Water Board. The surface rights held by B2Gold Nunavut are sufficient for the LoM plan that supports the Mineral Reserve estimates.
Water rights are granted through water licences and are managed under the Water Management Plan. Type B water licences allow for exploration related activities while Type A water licences pertain to operations.
Prior to acquisition by B2Gold in 2023, Sabina completed a definitive framework agreement with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association that formalized the commercial leases and authorized mine development and operations; it is a comprehensive agreement that sets out rights and obligations with respect to surface land access on Inuit-owned land at the Back River District. The framework agreement includes the IIBA and other obligations required by the Nunavut Agreement.
Mineral claims or leases governed by the Nunavut Mining Regulations are subject to Crown royalties. Under the Nunavut Mining Regulations, each fiscal year, the owner or operator of a mine must pay to the Crown, royalties based on the value of the mine's output during that fiscal year.
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The following net smelter return (NSR) royalties are payable:
Goose Claims Group: 1% NSR on future gold production, payable to Kitikmeot Inuit Association.
Goose Claims Group:
- On the first 400,000 oz of gold production, there is a 0.7% NSR payable to a third party and a 1.5% NSR payable to B2Gold Nunavut (the "B2 Goose Royalty"), as the Company purchased this royalty from a third party; and
- On any gold production over 400,000 oz, there is an aggregate 3.5% NSR payable to a third party and the 1.5% B2 Royalty until B2Gold pays a total of C$5,000,000 in royalties (the "Goose Threshold Amount"). Once B2Gold has paid the Goose Threshold Amount, the aggregate royalty to the third party becomes 4.25% and the B2 Goose Royalty decreases to 0.75%.
George Claims Group:
- On the first 800,000 oz of gold production, there is an aggregate 1.15% NSR payable to third parties and a 1.5% NSR payable to B2Gold Nunavut (the "B2 George Royalty"), as B2Gold purchased this royalty from a third party; and
- On any gold production over 800,000 oz, there is an aggregate 3.5% NSR payable to third parties and the 1.5% B2 George Royalty until B2Gold pays a total of C$5,000,000 in royalties (the "George Threshold Amount"). Once B2Gold has paid the George Threshold Amount, the aggregate royalty to the third parties becomes 4.25% and the B2 George Royalty decreases to 0.75%.
The specific set of claims underlying the royalties listed above for the Goose Claims Group and the George Claims Group are set out in the respective underlying royalty agreements. These underlying royalty agreements also contain the details of the royalty calculations and any adjustments.
History
Prior to B2Gold's acquisition of the Back River District, the following companies had completed work in the Back River District and Goose Project area: Trigg, Woollett, Olsen Consulting Limited; J.G. Greenough, Gold Bar Development Ltd., Andromeda Investments Ltd., Esso Minerals Canada, Kerr-McGee Corp., Bow Valley Industries, Homestake Mineral Development Company Ltd., Arauco Resources Corporation, which later changed its name to Kit Resources Corp., Kinross Gold Corp., Miramar Mining Corporation, Dundee Precious Metals, and Sabina. Work completed included: prospecting; geological and reconnaissance mapping (1:200, 1:1,000, 1:5,000, 1:10,000, 1:25,000 scales); specialist geological studies (mineralogical and gold genesis, till orientation, mafic intrusion geochemistry and structure, metamorphic grade; felsic dyke geochemical characterization; geochronology; regional trace element); geochemical sampling (grab, rock chip, till, soil, channel, trench); airborne geophysical surveys (magnetic, electromagnetic, and radiometric), ground geophysical surveys (magnetics, induced polarization, magnetometer, horizontal-loop electromagnetic, time-domain electromagnetic, IPower three dimensional); exploration and infill core drilling; metallurgical testwork; geotechnical and hydrological data collection and studies; mining studies; environmental and baseline surveys; Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates.
There is no known gold or base metals production prior to our development of the Goose Mine.
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Geological Setting, Mineralization and Deposit Types
Deposits within the Back River District are characterized as banded iron formation-hosted gold deposits, which are structurally and stratigraphically controlled with gold mineralization predominantly hosted in sulphide-bearing oxide-iron formation.
The Back River District is in the Hackett River terrane in the eastern part of the Slave craton. Gold mineralization in the Slave craton is commonly hosted within Archean greenstone belts.
The primary lithologies in the Back River District area are metasedimentary units belonging to the Archean-age Yellowknife Supergroup and the Proterozoic-age Goulburn Group, together with intrusive rocks provisionally assigned to the Archean-age Regan Intrusive Suite. Most of the claim groups are underlain by open to tightly folded Beechey Lake Group turbidite rocks. Greywacke and mudstone are the most volumetrically significant lithologies in the Project area, with lesser amounts of interbedded banded iron formation occurring at the Goose, George, Boot, Boulder, Needle, Malley, and Wishbone Claims Groups. At the Beech Claims Group, volcanic rocks assigned to the Hackett River Group occur in a narrow, 300-400 m wide, north-south trending belt juxtaposed between Beechey Group and Regan Intrusive Suite rocks. This is the only known occurrence of Hackett River volcanic rocks in the Project area.
The Back River District area has undergone at least four major deformation events extending from the late Archean to Paleoproterozoic. Structural features are dominated by D2 and are characterized by tight to isoclinal, subvertical, northwest-trending folds with moderate to steep-plunges and exhibiting a moderate to strong axial planar cleavage and localized high-strain zones. The Back River District was subject to regional upper greenschist metamorphism attributed to crustal thickening and burial during D2.
Granitic plutons attributed to the Regan Intrusive Suite, cross-cut the southeast part of the Back River District area, forming a northeast-trending intrusive belt that outcrops at the Needle, Del, Goose, Boot, Beech and Wishbone Claims Groups. Banded iron formation units exhibit strong warping and deflection around the more rigid plutonic bodies in these areas and result in an irregular deviation and re-folding of the overall northwest-trending folds and fabrics.
Gold mineralization is primarily hosted within oxide iron formation, and is spatially correlated with discrete high strain zones, F2 fold hinges and short limbs, lithological contacts, and quartz-feldspar porphyry dykes. Mineralization is commonly developed in fold axial planes and sub-parallel high-strain zones within limbs of F2 folds.
Gold is strongly associated with sulphide minerals, preferentially arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite and pyrite. Native gold may occur as visible grains, along fractures within sulphides, or within chlorite or amphibole altered iron formation. The deposits in the Goose Claims Group occur within the lower iron formation in well-defined structural corridors and are spatially associated with lithological contacts. Gold mineralization is strongly correlated with tension vein filling semi-massive pyrrhotite, pyrite, and coarse-grained arsenopyrite. Gold mineralization at the George Claims Group has similar depositional styles as those observed throughout the Back River District. However, the structural corridors within the George Claims Group are less well-defined than those at the Goose Claims Group. At the George Claims Group, gold mineralization is typically hosted in oxide iron formation, localised in three distinct fold belts, George belt, Fold Nose belt, and Lookout Hill belt, with little continuity exhibited between these discrete mineralized domains.
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Exploration
Since B2Gold's acquisition of Sabina in 2023, work completed has included claim and deposit/prospect-scale mapping (1:200, 1:1,000, 1:5,000, 1:10,000, 1:25,000 scales), geochemical sampling (reconnaissance and grab, channel and till); structural studies; geophysical surveys (airborne magnetic and radiometric, bore hole time domain electromagnetic, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), 3D direct current resistivity and IP); trenching; core drilling, including drilling for exploration, resource estimation, geotechnical, hydrogeological and metallurgical testwork purposes; metallurgical testwork; Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates and updates to those estimates; mining studies; environmental baseline surveys; stakeholder consultation, permitting, and mine construction activities.
Drilling
Drilling has been completed in support of exploration evaluations, Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates, metallurgical, geotechnical, and hydrogeological evaluations. Drilling as at December 31, 2024 consists of 2,813 core holes (648,459 m). Of this total we have completed 158 drill holes (55,578 m).
Drilling used to support the Mineral Resource estimate for the Goose Claims Group deposits (Umwelt, Llama, Goose Main, Echo, Nuvuyak, Goose Neck South) includes 1,267 drill holes for a total of 369,795 m. Drilling used to support the Mineral Resource estimates for the George Claims Group deposits (Locale 1, Locale 2, LCP North, LCP South, Tupiq, and GH) includes 731 drill holes for 139,927 m.
Geological logging procedures varied over time. Typically, information such as lithology, mineralization, veining, description of specific structures and alteration styles, together with their width, intensity and associated mineral assemblage information were recorded. Rock quality designation ("RQD") descriptions were undertaken, and core recovery was measured. Other data collected could include specific gravity, magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements. Core was photographed. Core recoveries were typically good across all drill campaigns.
Historically, drill collar information has been recorded using various spatial location instruments, including global positioning system (GPS), differential global positioning system (DGPS), total station, and electronic distance measurement instruments. Historical down-hole surveys were conducted using a combination of Maxibor, Sperry Sun single shot (magnetic), EZ-shot (magnetic), EZ-Trac (magnetic), RotoDip (magnetic), and acid tests (no azimuth) instruments/methods. From 2005 onward, instruments included Reflex Maxibor, Reflex EZ-Shot (magnetic), Reflex EZ-Trac, Reflex Sprint-IQ gyro and Omni38x Gyro Survey tools.
Current and planned drilling is summarized under the heading "Production, Development, and Exploration" below.
Sampling, Analysis and Data Verification
Core sampling procedures have evolved with the various operators and industry standards since exploration began in the Back River District in 1982. Sample lengths ranged from 0.5-2.0 m with a 1.0 m average length, focusing on mineralized and strongly veined lithologies. Samples consisted of half core, split by manual core splitter until 2002 (no drilling took place in 2003), and then cut with a diamond saw from 2004 onwards.
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Density measurements were determined by the water immersion method. Mineral Resource estimates used averaged specific gravity values for the stratigraphic and intrusive units in the estimate.
Numerous independent laboratories were used over the data collection period, including Acme Analytical Laboratories, Vancouver, British Columbia; Actlabs, Kamloops, British Columbia; ALS Chemex Laboratories, North Vancouver, British Columbia; Assayers Canada; Bondar-Clegg, North Vancouver, British Columbia; Bureau Veritas, Vancouver, British Columbia; Cantech Laboratories, Calgary, Alberta; International Plasma Laboratory, Vancouver, British Columbia; Min-En Laboratories, North Vancouver, British Columbia; Overburden Drilling Management Limited, Nepean, Ontario; SGS Canada, Burnaby, British Columbia; Swastika Laboratories (Swastika), Ontario; and TSL Laboratories, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Where accreditations are known, these included ISO 9002 and ISO 17025. One non-independent field laboratory at the Del Camp, Del Claims Group was used for exploration purposes in 1986.
Sample preparation methods changed over time and with the laboratory performing the preparation. Core samples could be crushed to -¼ inch, >70% passing 2 mm (10 mesh), 95% passing -10 mesh, or 95% passing 10 mesh. Pulverization could include -100 mesh, >85% passing 75 µm (200 mesh), 90% passing 150 mesh, or 90% passing -140 mesh.
Analytical methods also varied over time and by laboratory. Gold was assayed using fire assay with a finish that could include inductively-coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry (MS), ICP-atomic emission spectroscopy (AES), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) or gravimetry. Multi-element data were typically collected using ICP methods.
No information on quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) measures are known for programs prior to 1997. After that date, programs used QA/QC programs that had variable insertion rates, but typically included standard reference materials, blanks, and duplicate samples in the sample stream. Other data that had QA/QC measures in place included density and magnetic susceptibility measurements. During the Sabina and B2Gold programs, QA/QC data were continuously reviewed as new data is imported. Reports were reviewed to ensure ongoing data integrity.
Various relogging and resampling programs have been completed throughout the life of the Goose Project to reflect evolving geological understanding and changing logging strategies. Results of these programs have allowed for improved understanding of the mineralization controls, and improved stratigraphic and intrusive 3D modelling.
Sample security measures for earlier drill programs are not known. Sample security measures for the Miramar, Dundee and Sabina programs included moving drill core samples from the drill site to the core processing facility twice daily, moving core samples from the core processing facility to the air-cargo planes on the day of flight, and tracking sample shipments using industry-standard procedures. B2Gold's sample shipment and security includes moving samples from the drill site and/or field work areas to the sample yards at the end of each work shift and tracking sample shipments.
Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing
Metallurgical laboratories used in testwork include ALS Metallurgy, Gekko Systems Ltd. (Gekko), Geoscience Laboratories (Geoscience), Hazen Research Inc. (Hazen), Process Research Associates Ltd. (PRA), SGS Mineral Services (SGS), Terra Mineralogical Services (Terra), Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd. (BML), FLSmidth A/S (FLSmidth), and Pocock Industrial (Pocock).
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Tests completed include sample preparation; chemical analysis (head, metallic gold, multi-element and whole rock); specific gravity (SG); mineralogy (scanning electron microscope (SEM), rapid mineral scan (RMS), polished section, bulk mineral analysis (BMA) and trace mineral search (TMS) using quantitative evaluation of minerals by scanning electron microscopy (QEMSCAN)); comminution (Bond ball mill work index (BWI), impact crushing work index (CWi), preliminary grinding circuit simulation; gravity recoverable gold (GRG); leach (cyanide and batch carbon-in-pulp (CIP)); settling (flocculant screening and dosage determination); solid-liquid separation, viscosity; cyanide detoxification testing, and evaluation of total organic carbon content of the ores.
Design and debottlenecking reviews were completed with Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd of Brisbane, Australia to identify and correct process design deficiencies and bottlenecks prior to completion of plant construction.
From the leach optimization test program, the overall gravity/leach gold recovery on the Year 1-3 composite sample is estimated at 92.5%. This includes a 1.9% discount on the optimum recovery from the SGS test work. The discount is used to account for soluble gold and fine carbon losses as well as process upsets. This figure is the expected plant-scale gold recovery for the initial three years of mill operation. Prior gold recovery estimates appeared to be based on direct laboratory results.
There are no known deleterious elements that would incur penalties in the doré production and marketing. There are also no known elements in the material to be treated that may cause plant processing issues other than reactive pyrrhotite which has been addressed through a leach optimization test program.
Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates
Mineral Resources
Goose Claims Group Deposits
Lithology was modeled with specific focus on the lower iron formation stratigraphic unit, gabbro dykes and the quartz-feldspar porphyry dykes. Detailed deposit-scale shear/fault models were developed for Umwelt, Llama, Goose Main, and Echo. An overburden model was constructed from logged drill hole data, surface mapping and lake surveys.
Low-grade mineralization domains were modeled based on a nominal gold cutoff of 0.2-0.4 g/t Au. High-grade domains were modelled based on a nominal gold cutoff of 2-6 g/t Au with consideration to logged sulphide intensity, especially arsenopyrite.
At each deposit area, the mean of density measurements in each lithology unit was calculated and applied to the lithology model. Gold values were capped, with caps varying by deposit. Downhole composites, regularized by length, were created within mineralized domains and lithological boundaries. Composite lengths varied between deposits. Gold variograms were created from composites in domains with sufficient samples and used for interpolation parameters.
Lithology and mineralization domains were coded to the block model using subcells. Depending on the deposit, the number of drill holes that could be used in interpolation ranged from 2-5, the minimum number of composites from 1-8 and the maximum number from 6-16. Estimation was typically completed using three passes. Mineral Resources are reported from the OK grade estimate at all of the Goose Claims Group deposits.
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Block grade estimates were checked using the following methods: visual comparison of block grades to composites on cross-sections and levels; global statistical comparison of NN, ID3, and OK estimates, and swath plots by estimation domain to check for potential local biases in the estimates. No material biases or issues were noted.
Resource models were classified using an assessment of geological and mineralization complexity, data quality, and data density. Classification was implemented using drill hole spacing as the primary criterion. Resources were classified separately for mineralization considered potentially amenable to either underground or open pit mining methods, and based on the following criteria:
- Open pit: Indicated: blocks in regions of 40-60 m spacing; supported by two or more drill holes; Inferred: blocks in regions of 60-100 m spacing;
- Underground: Indicated: blocks in regions of 30-50 m spacing; supported by two or more drill holes; Inferred: blocks in regions of 50-80 m spacing.
No Measured Mineral Resources were classified. No Indicated Mineral Resources potentially amenable to underground mining methods were classified at Goose Main, Echo, or Goose Neck South.
Mineral Resources considered potentially amenable to open pit mining methods were constrained within a conceptual open pit mine design at Umwelt and Echo. For the other open-pit resources (Goose Main, Llama, Goose Neck South) Whittle optimized pit shells were created. Mineral Resources considered potentially amenable to underground mining methods were reported outside of the conceptual pit shells and design pits. No allowances were made for crown pillars. The Mineral Resources potentially amenable to underground mining methods were constrained by cut-off grade; however no stope or other constraint was applied. For Mineral Resources, considered potentially amenable to open pit mining operations, a cutoff of 0.9 g/t Au was used. For Mineral Resources outside of the conceptual open pits, which may be amenable to underground mining, a 2.2 g/t Au cut-off was used.
George Claims Group Deposits
Lithology, dyke and mineralization models were built for the deposits within the George Claims Group. In addition, several sub-vertical intrusive dykes were modeled. Several post-mineral faults were modeled in 3D based on logged data. A base of overburden surface was also constructed.
Mineralization domains were created using the following criteria: halo domain with a 0.2 g/t Au threshold and minimum 3 m downhole length; low-grade domain with a 1.0 g/t Au threshold and minimum 3 m downhole length; and high-grade domain with a 3.0 g/t Au threshold and 2 m minimum downhole length. Mineralization domain orientations are controlled by stratigraphy.
Bulk density was applied to the block models using the mean sample value in the stratigraphic/lithological units. Gold values were capped, with caps varying by deposit. One-metre composites were created using the mineralized zone envelope as a limiting boundary. Variograms were created for the larger domains; however, they were very poor due to the low numbers of composites in each domain. The primary interpolation method, inverse distance weighting interpolation to the second power (ID2), did not require inputs from variograms.
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Search orientations were controlled by Datamine's dynamic anisotropy function, using the mineralized domains as an orientation control. A maximum of five composites from a single drill hole could be used, with a minimum number of six and maximum of 25 composites used overall. Estimation was completed in three passes. Estimates were reported from the ID2 interpolation.
Block grade estimates were checked using the following methods: visual comparison of block grades to composites on cross-sections and levels; global statistical comparison of NN and ID2 estimates, and swath plots by estimation domain to check for potential local biases in the estimates. No material biases or issues were noted.
Classification was implemented using drill hole spacing as the primary criterion. Resources were classified separately for mineralization considered potentially amenable to either underground or open pit mining methods, and based on the following criteria:
- Open pit: Indicated: blocks in regions of 50-60 m spacing; supported by two or more drill holes; Inferred: blocks in regions of 100-120 m spacing;
- Underground: Indicated: no blocks were classified as Indicated; Inferred: blocks in regions of 60-80 m spacing.
No blocks were classified as Measured Mineral Resources.
Mineral resources potentially amenable to open pit mining were constrained within pit shells. The Mineral Resources potentially amenable to underground mining methods were constrained by cut-off grade; however, no stope or other constraint was applied.
The calculated open pit cutoff grade was rounded to 1.4 g/t Au. The cut-off grade used for the underground estimate was calculated at 3.1 g/t Au.
Mineral Resource Estimate
The Mineral Resource estimates have an effective date of December 31, 2024. Mineral Resources are reported as Indicated and Inferred.
Goose Claims Group Indicated Mineral Resource Statement
| ResourceClassification | Deposit | 100% Project Basis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ConceptualMining Method | Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | Gold Grade<br>(g/t Au) | Contained Gold Ounces <br>(x 1,000) | ||
| Indicated | Goose Main | Open pit | 5,700 | 4.40 | 810 |
| Llama | Open pit | 2,400 | 5.77 | 450 | |
| Underground | 130 | 7.46 | 30 | ||
| Umwelt | Open pit | 2,580 | 8.06 | 670 | |
| Underground | 4,120 | 11.65 | 1,540 | ||
| Echo | Open pit | 300 | 5.02 | 48 | |
| Stockpiles | 240 | 2.76 | 21 | ||
| Indicated Total | 15,460 | 7.16 | 3,560 | ||
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Goose Claims Group Inferred Mineral Resource Statement
| ResourceClassification | Deposit | 100% Project Basis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ConceptualMining Method | Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | Gold Grade<br>(g/t Au) | Contained GoldOunces <br>(x 1,000) | ||
| Inferred | Goose Main | Open pit | 160 | 2.23 | 11 |
| Underground | 3,000 | 4.57 | 440 | ||
| Llama | Open pit | 320 | 6.12 | 64 | |
| Underground | 2,180 | 10.68 | 750 | ||
| Umwelt | Open pit | 100 | 1.56 | 5 | |
| Underground | 1,230 | 10.02 | 400 | ||
| Nuvuyak | Underground | 2,430 | 8.14 | 640 | |
| Echo | Underground | 580 | 7.04 | 130 | |
| Goose Neck South | Open pit | 51 | 2.98 | 5 | |
| Inferred Total | 10,060 | 7.54 | 2,440 |
Notes:
Mineral Resources have been classified using the CIM Standards and have an effective date of December 31, 2024. Mineral Resources are reported in situ or in stockpiles, inclusive of those Mineral Resources that have been modified to Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and attributable basis.
The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration
The Qualified Person for the stockpile estimate is Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects.
Mineral Resource estimates that are amenable to open pit mining methods are reported within conceptual open pit shells based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 92.5%, selling costs of US$107.50/oz Au including royalties and levies, and operating cost estimates of US$5.99-6.63/t mined (mining), US$32.40-32.72/t processed (processing) and US$22.27/t processed (site general), pit slope angles of 45º, and an exchange rate of C$1.33:US$1.00. Mineral Resources potentially amenable to open pit mining methods are reported at an average cut-off grade of 0.9 g/t Au. Mineral Resource estimates potentially amenable to underground mining are reported at a cut-off grade of 2.2 g/t Au, assuming a gold price of US$2,100/oz Au, process recovery of 92.5%, variable mining costs by deposit of US$134.20-171.18/t mined, processing cost of US$54.72/t processed, and a selling cost of US$107.50/oz Au produced. No stope or other constraint was applied.
Mineral Resources at Echo account for mining depletion as of December 31, 2024.
All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.
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George Claims Group Indicated Mineral Resources Statement
| ResourceClassification | Deposit | 100% Project Basis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conceptual MiningMethod | Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | GoldGrade<br>(g/t Au) | Contained GoldOunces <br>(x 1,000) | ||
| Indicated | LCP North | Open pit | 150 | 8.88 | 43 |
| LCP South | Open pit | 350 | 8.74 | 97 | |
| Locale 1 | Open pit | 590 | 8.49 | 160 | |
| Locale 2 | Open pit | 270 | 6.30 | 55 | |
| Tupiq | Open pit | 64 | 4.80 | 10 | |
| GH | Open pit | 260 | 6.99 | 58 | |
| Indicated Total | 1,680 | 7.85 | 420 |
George Claims Group Inferred Mineral Resources Statement
| Resource Classification | Deposit | 100% Project Basis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conceptual Mining Method | Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | GoldGrade<br>(g/t Au) | Contained Gold Ounces <br>(x 1,000) | ||
| Inferred | LCP North | Underground | 160 | 9.99 | 53 |
| LCP South | Underground | 270 | 10.17 | 87 | |
| Locale 1 | Underground | 1,150 | 10.24 | 380 | |
| Locale 2 | Underground | 1,730 | 8.81 | 490 | |
| Tupiq | Underground | 230 | 8.52 | 63 | |
| GH | Underground | 190 | 7.60 | 45 | |
| Inferred Total | 3,730 | 9.32 | 1,120 |
Notes:
Mineral Resources have been classified using the CIM Standards and have an effective date of December 31, 2024. Mineral Resources are reported in situ, inclusive of those Mineral Resources that have been modified to Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and attributable basis.
The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., our Vice President, Exploration.
Mineral Resources potentially amenable to open pit mining methods are reported within conceptual open pit shells based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 92.5%, selling costs of US$107.50/oz Au including royalties and levies, and operating cost estimates of US$6.56/t mined (mining), US$57.94/t processed (processing) and US$26.55/t processed (site general), pit slope angles of 43º, and an exchange rate of C$1.33:US$1.00. Mineral Resources potentially amenable to open pit mining methods are reported at an average cut-off grade of 1.4 g/t Au. Mineral Resource estimates potentially amenable to underground mining are reported at a cut-off grade of 3.1 g/t Au, assuming a gold price of US$2,100/oz Au, process recovery of 92.5%, mining costs of US$175.46/t mined, processing cost of US$84.50/t processed including haulage, and a selling cost of US$107.50/oz Au produced. No stope or other constraint was applied.
All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.
Factors that may affect the Mineral Resource estimates include changes to: metal price assumptions; assumptions used to generate the gold cut-off grade; local interpretations of mineralization geometry and continuity of mineralized zones; geological and mineralization shape and geological and grade continuity assumptions; density and domain assignments; geotechnical, mining and metallurgical recovery assumptions; the input and design parameter assumptions that pertain to the conceptual pit and underground mineable shapes constraining the estimates; and our assumptions as to the continued ability to access the site, retain mineral and surface rights titles, and maintain the social licence to operate.
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Mineral Reserves
Mineral Reserves were converted from Indicated Mineral Resources. Inferred Mineral Resources were set to waste. The mine plan is a combination of open pit and underground mining using conventional mine methods and equipment, and in-pit tailings deposition.
The pit shell sequences obtained from optimisations were analysed to define a practical mining sequence for the pit stage designs. Some pits are too small for phasing and are mined in one pass. A gold price of US$1,750/oz Au was used in the pit optimisations and the calculation of the break-even cut-off grade for Mineral Reserves reporting. Royalties were modelled at 5%, with an additional $2.50/oz for freight, insurance, and refinery charges for a total of $90.00/oz Au. Process operating costs for pit optimization purposes, prior to site general and capital allocations, were $40.40/t processed. An applied cutoff grade of 1.65 g/t Au is used for Mineral Reserves reporting. In development of the Mineral Reserve models, dilution and ore loss were applied through whole block averaging, which led to variance between the Mineral Reserve models and the parent Mineral Resource models. No additional ore loss or dilution factors were applied downstream of the whole block averaging process for open pit Mineral Reserves.
Stope shapes appropriate for Mineral Reserve estimation and long-term production planning were created assuming transverse and longitudinal longhole stoping mining methods. The cut-off grade was 4.64 g/t Au. Transverse stopes dominate the tonnes and ounces contained, and so the transverse stoping areas were set first in the stope design process. Where feasible, longitudinal stoping zones outside of or adjacent to the transverse zones were manually added to form the overall Mineral Reserve stope shapes. Stopes above the applied cutoff grade that exist far from the main mining zones that cannot economically justify the development required for access were removed from the Mineral Reserve.
The Mineral Reserve estimate has an effective date of December 31, 2024. Mineral Reserves are reported Probable.
Goose Project Probable Mineral Reserves Statement
| Deposit | Mining Method | Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | Gold Grade<br>(g/t Au) | Contained Gold <br>Ounces <br>(x 1,000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echo | Open pit | 180 | 5.69 | 30 |
| Umwelt | Open pit | 2,600 | 7.75 | 650 |
| Llama | Open pit | 1,400 | 6.39 | 290 |
| Goose Main | Open pit | 3,100 | 4.79 | 470 |
| Subtotal - Open Pits | 7,300 | 6.19 | 1,450 | |
| Umwelt | Underground | 3,800 | 8.30 | 1,010 |
| Stockpiles | Stockpiles | 240 | 2.76 | 21 |
| Total Probable Reserves | 11,300 | 6.82 | 2,480 | |
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Notes:
Mineral Reserves have been classified using the CIM Standards, are reported at the point of delivery to the process plant, and have an effective date of December 31, 2024.
Mineral Reserves are reported on a 100% project basis.
The Qualified Person for the Open Pit and Stockpile Mineral Reserve estimate is Peter Montano, P.E., our Vice President, Projects.
The Qualified Person for the Underground Mineral Reserve estimate is Michael Meyers, P.Eng., our Manager, Projects.
Mineral Reserves from open pit mine methods and stockpiles are based on a conventional open pit mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 92.5%, selling costs of US$90.00/oz including royalties and levies, average mining cost of US$4.92/t mined at surface, average processing cost of US$41.08/t processed, and site general costs of US$66.95/t processed. Reserve model dilution and ore loss were applied through whole block averaging such that at a 1.65 g/t Au cut-off, for all pits combined there is a 32% increase in tonnes, a 25% reduction in grade, and a 1% reduction in ounces when compared to the Mineral Resource model. Mineral Reserves that will be mined by open pit methods or are in stockpiles are reported above a cut-off grade of 1.65 g/t Au.
Mineral Reserves that will be mined by underground methods assume longhole stoping mining methods, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 92.5%, selling costs of US$90.00/oz including royalties and levies, average mining cost of US$120.13/t ore mined, average processing cost of US$41.08/t processed, site general costs of US$66.95/t processed, dilution % variable by stoping area, and 90% mining recovery. Mineral Reserves that will be mined by underground methods are reported above a cut-off grade of 4.64 g/t Au.
All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.
Factors that may affect the Mineral Reserve estimates include changes to: gold price, pit slope and geotechnical, hydrogeological and dewatering assumptions; inputs to capital and operating cost estimates; operating cost assumptions used in the constraining pit shell and underground mineable shapes; pit designs from those currently envisaged; underground mining assumptions from those currently envisaged; modifying factor assumptions, including environmental, permitting and social licence to operate; and stockpiling assumptions as to the amount and grade of stockpile material.
Mining Operations
Mining operations use, or will use, conventional open pit and underground mining methods and equipment. The total remaining mine life is nine years for the development of all open pit and underground Mineral Reserves.
Open Pit
The Echo, Umwelt, Llama, and Goose Main pits will be mined using open pit methods. Open pit operations began in 2023 and are scheduled to continue until 2032. Open pit mining rates ramp up to 18 Mt/a by 2027, before beginning to ramp down in 2030 as pits are depleted. Production of the pits is staggered to provide a steady source of ore to the mill, as well as to facilitate in-pit tailings deposition for processing.
The open pit deposits follow a common design approach as the pits are of similar scales and will used a shared equipment fleet. Typically, two pits are in operations at the same time, one in a stripping heavy phase of development with the other in primarily ore.
Geotechnical investigations support the open pit designs. Design sectors were defined based on geomechanical domains and pit shells. Design and assessment confirm that the recommended geometries are appropriate for the Echo, Umwelt, Llama, and Goose Main pits, assuming the implementation of controlled blasting, proactive monitoring, and continuous geomechanical data collection. Maintaining flexibility in the mine plan will be crucial for effectively managing slope stability.
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The Echo, Umwelt, and Goose Main pits are expected to be mined through permafrost conditions over their operational life. The Llama pit is developed under Llama Lake, which is a talik. Localized thawing and snow melt are expected to occur each year resulting in pit water, in addition to water brought into the pit for operational activities such as drilling and dust suppression when applicable. The water volumes will be managed through small in-pit sumps and mobile diesel pumps when water movement is required.
Underground
The Umwelt underground mine will be drive-in portal access and will be mined using a mix of transverse and longitudinal longhole open stoping methods. Stopes with a width of <10 m will typically be taken longitudinally, while stopes larger than this are taken transversely. Umwelt underground will average 1,300 ore tonnes per day once in steady state operations, reaching a maximum of 1,600 t/d in 2030, while developing an average of 12 m/day.
Stope heights will vary over the LOM, starting at 20 m, and later reaching 25 m high. In transverse areas early in the operations, the primary and secondary stope widths are 18 m each. Later in the mine life, the transverse stopes are still centered on 18 m widths, but the primary stopes are designed to be 16m wide and the secondaries are 20 m wide. Cemented backfill will be used in all stopes proximal to the crown pillar, and the base of the mined-out Umwelt open pit, which will be used to store tailings. Later in the mine life, only the primary stopes in the sequence will be cemented to allow for mining of the secondary stopes later in the sequence.
For all stopes, a dilution skin is applied during stope optimization measuring 1.0 m in the hanging wall, and 0.5 m in the footwall. During scheduling, a 10% ore loss assumption is applied for all stopes.
In the bottom of each mining zone will be a sillmat level, in which every stope will be backfilled with cemented rock fill (CRF) to enable access from the mining zone below it in the future. When it is time to extract the production level below the sillmat, it is planned to re-develop through the CRF to establish a top cut where production drilling and backfill will occur.
Stope design, ground support and dilution estimates were assessed using standard industry empirical methods. Stope design used the defined geotechnical properties and considered practical mining limitations, orebody geometry, numerical modelling stresses and geological features. Ground support will be installed using standard methods.
A thermal model of the Umwelt mine, encompassing all stages of the underground, open pit, and tailings deposition sequence, indicates that the introduction of heat from mining activities, water, and tailings, will lead to an unfrozen condition by the fourth quarter of 2028. This unfrozen condition will remain for the entirety of the mine life.
Production Schedule
Overall production planning is a blend of open pit and underground ore. Where possible, stronger periods in production in one ore source are scheduled to offset a weaker period in another. In periods where ore production from the mining areas exceeds the mill throughput capacity of 1.46 Mt/a, low-grade ore from the open pits will be stockpiled for later processing.
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Processing and Recovery Operations
The results of the metallurgical testwork, together with financial evaluation data, were used to develop metallurgical design criteria, which in turn were used to design the process facility.
The process consists of a leach and carbon adsorption process comprising: crushing; grinding; gravity concentration; leaching; carbon adsorption; cyanide destruction; carbon elution and regeneration; gold refining; and tailings thickening and disposal.
The mill is designed with a nominal capacity of 4,000 t/d at a planned average feed grade of 6 g/t Au. Design mill feed grade is 7.5 g/t Au. The crushing circuit will operate at an availability of 70%. Milling and leaching circuits will operate 24 h/d, 365 d/a, at an availability of 92%.
Process plant water requirements include process water (overflow solution from the pre-leach thickener and tailings thickener), reclaim water (water reclaimed from the tailings storage facilities (TSFs)), and fresh water (pumped from Goose Lake). Reagents will be conventional for gold operations.
Infrastructure, Permitting, and Compliance Activities
The two main infrastructure areas, at the Goose Mine and the Bathurst Inlet MLA, are linked by a WIR.
Infrastructure at the Goose Mine includes: four open pits; one underground mine; three waste rock storage areas ("WRSAs"); tailings storage using the mined-out open pits at Echo and Umwelt, and Llama if necessary; process-related facilities including assay laboratory and oxygen plant; truck shop (including service and wash bays, tyre repair, and storage space for spare parts and consumables); light surface vehicle maintenance facility; warehouse and laydown areas; power plant and power distribution; Energy Centre; fuel storage farm; explosives facility; permanent accommodations camps, administration office, and mine dry facility; utilities (including fresh, process, and potable water; sewage treatment; heating, ventilation, dust control, and fume extraction; waste heat recycling; fire protection; security); plant site water management facilities (including water diversion structures, water management ponds); two reverse osmosis water treatment plants and reverse osmosis polishing units; airstrip; all-season haul roads and service roads; and industrial waste management facilities.
Infrastructure at the MLA primarily consists of a marine receiving and staging facility, which is used to receive fuel, cargo, and consumables during Project construction and operation. Key items include: grounded terminal barge that will accept lighter barges; shore-mounted anchorages for shipping; diesel fuel storage tank farm; container storage area; construction laydown area; warehouse; power plant; maintenance shop; desalination plant; fresh/fire-water storage and distribution; accommodations camp with offices; waste management infrastructure; WIR; and all-weather airstrip. There will be three WRSAs. Potentially-acid generating (PAG) material will be encapsulated in the facilities by at least 5 m of non-acid generating (NAG) material. Drainage from the WRSAs is considered contact water, and is contained within contact water ponds. Underground mine waste will be temporarily stored on surface, used for construction (if NAG), and permanently stored underground as backfill.
An estimated 11.3 Mt of tailings will be generated over the LOM. The tailings will be deposited into the mined-out open pits at Echo and Umwelt. The Llama and Goose Main pits are permitted for tailings deposition as required. The Echo facility will receive tailings for the first 3.5 years (4.5 Mt of tailings), followed by 4.5 years of deposition to the Umwelt pit (6.8 Mt of tailings). Tailings will need to be managed to prevent metal-leaching and acid-rock drainage, and it is planned to flood the Llama and Umwelt facilities with water, and cover the Echo facility with waste rock at closure, which will limit acidic conditions from developing.
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The primary water management infrastructure will consist of water conveyance channels, stormwater ditches, and sediment control ponds.
The Back River Project Environmental Assessment commenced in June 2012, with submission of the Goose Project proposal to the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB File No. 12MN026). Following completion of a project certificate workshop held in December 2017, the Nunavut Impact Review Board issued the final project certificate (PC No. 007) pursuant to Section 12.5.12 of Article 12 of the Nunavut Agreement in December 2019.
In April 2018, the Back River Project Framework Agreement was finalized with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, establishing the rights and obligations related to surface land access on Inuit-owned land. This agreement achieves two key objectives: it ensures long-term land tenure security for B2Gold Nunavut and defines the benefits the Project will provide to the KIA and Kitikmeot Inuit in return for access to their land.
B2Gold Nunavut's Environmental Management System provides the framework through which the Environmental Management Plans will be delivered. There are currently over 30 Environmental Management Plans within the Environmental Management System.
B2Gold Nunavut has successfully completed the various permitting steps to proceed to mine development and has obtained all necessary major permits required for construction and operation of the Goose Mine, WIR, and MLA.
Financial security is required under the Type A Water Licence and is posted to Crown Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada for water-related closure costs, and the KIA for land-based reclamation activities associated with the Goose Project. The amount of security was agreed upon during the regulatory phase in 2018. The security will be deposited at agreed-upon milestones to ensure that the funds required for future reclamation will be available. The total closure cost of the Goose Project outlined in the Type A Water Licence Amendment No. 1 (issued August 31, 2021) is approximately C$50 million.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement determined that the socio-economic impact of the Goose Project would mostly be positive, notably due to delivery of benefits to Kitikmeot inuit via the IIBA. Potential project impacts are monitored and managed through the implementation of several management plans. Continual improvements and adjustments to B2Gold Nunavut’s management and monitoring program continue to be made and B2Gold Nunavut has committed to continue using adaptive management as a tool for improving the overall socio-economic performance in the future.
Capital and Operating Costs
Capital Costs
Capital costs consist largely of site processing and infrastructure facilities, mining and processing equipment and rebuilds, power generation including powerhouse and wind farm, and allowances for site general costs. Capital costs are split into:
- Sustaining capital: costs that support the existing LoM plan;
- Non-sustaining capital: costs are for a long-term structures or external project that do not necessarily depend on the mine plan. Non-sustaining capital allocations include remaining infrastructure development required to start processing operations in the second quarter of 2025.
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Capital Cost Estimate
| Area | Sub-Area | US$ million |
|---|---|---|
| Non-sustaining capital | Construction - all site development prior to first gold production | 150 |
| Construction - all site development after first gold production | 37 | |
| Subtotal non-sustaining capital | 187 | |
| Sustaining capital | Mining - surface | 81 |
| Mining - underground | 45 | |
| Processing | 10 | |
| Site general | 19 | |
| Distributable (power, MLA) | 124 | |
| Subtotal sustaining capital | 279 | |
| Closure capital | Closure costs | 34 |
| Total All Capital Costs | 500 |
Notes:
Totals have been rounded and may result in apparent summation differences.
Mining sustaining capital costs exclude mine capital stripping and development.
The projected LoM for the Goose Mine is 9 years of mining and 8.5 years of processing, including 2025.
Operating Costs
Operating cost estimates are based on cost actuals and forecasts as of December 31, 2024 on mining and processing Mineral Reserves from open pit, underground, and existing stockpile sources.
Department costs are estimated independently. Some departments are treated as distributable costs such as power generation, MLA, and WIR, and are allocated to other departments.
Operating Cost Estimate
| Area | Ore Processed <br>(US$/t) | Gold Produced <br>(US$/oz Au) |
|---|---|---|
| Mining (all areas) | 95.69 | 471.49 |
| Processing | 45.04 | 221.93 |
| Site general | 68.31 | 336.57 |
| Distributable (winter ice road and MLA) | 43.44 | 214.06 |
| Total | 252.48 | 1,244.05 |
Notes:
Totals have been rounded and may result in apparent summation differences.
Mining costs are $4.62/t mined for surface mining, including capitalized waste, and $116.76/t ore mined for underground excluding capitalized development.
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Processing costs include stockpile rehandle and ore haulage where applicable.
The projected LoM for the Goose Mine is 9 years of mining and 8.5 years of processing, including 2025.
The capital cost estimates and operating cost estimates in the tables above under the heading "Capital and Operating Costs" are based on estimates and mine plans for the Goose Mine at the dates indicated.
Economic Analysis
The financial model that supports the mineral reserve declaration in a standalone model that calculates annual cash flows based on scheduled ore production, assumed processing recoveries, metal sale prices, exchange rate of C$1.44:US$1.00, projected operating and capital costs, and estimated taxes. All costs and prices are in unescalated “real” dollars.
The Goose Mine is subject to Federal and Territorial corporate income tax at a combined rate of 27% (15% federal and 12% Nunavut) and mining royalties (i.e., Nunavut Mining Tax). The royalty is calculated based on graduated rates to a maximum royalty rate of up to 13%. As the royalty is based on production less operational expenses and certain other deductions, it has been reflected as an income and mining tax for the purposes of the LoM.
The valuation date is December 31, 2024. The after-tax NPV is $1,305 million. A discount rate of 6% is used.
Summary Results of the Goose Project Mineral Reserve Life of Mine Plan
| **** | Representative Steady State Years*(2027 – 2031)* | Mineral Reserve Life of Mine |
|---|---|---|
| Production Profile | ||
| Years | 5 | 9 |
| Ore tonnes processed (Mt) | 7.1 | 11.3 |
| Average gold grade processed (g/t) | 7.40 | 6.82 |
| Gold recovery (%) | 92.5 | 92.5 |
| Gold ounces produced (oz) | 1,553,000 | 2,294,000 |
| Average annual gold production (oz) | 311,000 | 270,000^1^ |
| Operating Costs | ||
| Cash operating costs^2^($/oz gold) | 962 | 1,129 |
| All-In Sustaining Costs^3^ ($/oz gold) | 1,363 | 1,547 |
| Open pit mining cost ($/t moved) | 4.53 | 4.62 |
| Underground mining cost ($/t mined) | 109.89 | 116.76 |
| Processing cost ($/t processed) | 44.55 | 45.04 |
| Site general cost ($/t processed) | 64.00 | 68.31 |
| Distributable MLA and WIR ($/t processed) | 40.83 | 43.44 |
| Capital Costs | ||
| Sustaining capital ($M)^4^ | 141 | 279 |
Notes:
Average annual production calculated as total gold ounces produced divided by the mill processing life of approximately 8.5 years.
Cash operating costs consist of mining costs, processing costs and site general costs.
AISC consist of cash operating costs, royalties, corporate general and administrative costs, selling costs, silver credits and sustaining capital expenditures but exclude construction costs and non-sustaining capital expenditures. Sustaining capital costs exclude open pit deferred stripping and underground capitalized development.
Sustaining capital costs exclude open pit deferred stripping and underground capitalized development.
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Production, Development, and Exploration
All planned construction activities in 2024 were completed and project construction and development continue to progress on track for first gold pour at the Goose Project in the second quarter of 2025, followed by ramp up to commercial production in the third quarter of 2025. We estimate that gold production in calendar year 2025 will be between 120,000 and 150,000 ounces and that average annual gold production for the six-year period from 2026 to 2031 inclusive will be approximately 300,000 ounces per year.
Following the successful completion of the 2024 sealift, construction of the 163 km WIR began in December 2024 and was completed in February 2025. On February 18, 2025, the WIR became operational and the transportation of all materials from the MLA to the Goose Mine site expected to be completed by mid May 2025.
Development of the open pit and underground remain the Company's primary focus to ensure that adequate material is available for mill startup and that the Echo pit is available for tailings placement. Open pit mining of the Echo pit continues to meet production targets and is anticipated to be ready to receive tailings when the mill starts. The Umwelt underground development remains on schedule for the commencement of production in mid 2025. We are continuously reviewing options to optimize Umwelt underground mine production and maximize tailings storage volume in the Echo pit.
In addition to the non-sustaining capital construction costs to bring the Goose Project into operation, we will continue to invest sustaining capital into the Goose Project in 2025. This includes C$65 million in the power plant, C$12 million in the wind power project, C$20 million in capitalized waste development in the Umwelt underground mine, C$10 million in capitalized waste stripping in the Umwelt open pit mine, C$8 million for mobile mine equipment, and C$4 million in various capital mining projects.
We continue to analyze ways to optimize the Goose Mine LoM plan. Areas of optimization currently being studied include:
- Underground mining method: studies are ongoing to evaluate the potential to exceed the planned production from the Umwelt underground by increasing the mine production rate through development of more active production levels, and consideration of alternate mine methods to both lower costs and capture additional existing Mineral Resources into the mine plan;
- Mine technology projects: remote operation of surface and underground equipment presents an opportunity to optimize production efficiencies, reduce the number of on-site staff, and reduce operating costs; and
- Process flow sheet optimization: studies in progress include evaluation of a flotation/concentrate leach option to compare with the existing whole ore leach flowsheet. This transition has the potential to increase gold recovery by 2-3%. A study in progress also includes evaluating addition of a semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill to the grinding circuit to increase plant throughput to the permitted 6,000 t/d in the future, if warranted by the mine plan and economics.
A total of $32 million is budgeted for exploration at the Back River Gold District in 2025, of which $21 million is dedicated to supporting the exploration base for the entire district, at Goose Mine, and for the drilling of near-mine targets. A total of 12,000 m of drilling will target extensions of the Llama and Umwelt deposits, which host the largest and highest-grade Mineral Resource estimates at the Goose Project. In addition, follow up drilling of significant results returned at the Nuvuyak, Mammoth and Hook targets are planned.
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Regional exploration including geophysics, mapping, prospecting and till sampling will be undertaken on the George, Boot, Boulder, Del, Beech and Needle Claims Groups. This regional work will also include an estimated 13,000 m of core drilling to follow up drill ready targets defined during the 2024 summer regional exploration program. A significantly increased budget of $11 million is being allocated for the regional projects.
OTHER PROPERTIES ****
Gramalote Project
On December 23, 2019, we entered into an amended and restated agreement with AngloGold with respect to the Gramalote Project, and on January 1, 2020, we assumed the role of the operator of the Gramalote Project. The in-country operating entity is Gramalote Colombia Limited ("Gramalote Colombia"). On October 5, 2023, we acquired the remaining 50% interest of the Gramalote Project owned by AngloGold resulting in B2Gold owning 100% of the Gramalote Project. See details under "General Development of the Business".
The Gramalote Project is located approximately 230 km northwest of the Colombian capital of Bogota and approximately 100 km northeast of Medellin, the regional capital of the Department of Antioquia. Gramalote Colombia holds 11,023.28 ha in three registered concession contracts, namely integrated mining permit 14292, totalling 8,720.71 ha (referred to as the Gramalote Ridge permit), concession title 4894, totalling 2,292.81 ha (referred to as the Trinidad permit) and concession QHQ-16081, totalling 9.78 ha. In addition, there is an application for mineral title, LJC-0812, which collectively total 11,114.41 ha. Once in production, state royalties on the gold and silver will be payable at approximately 3.2% of the gross metal value at the plant site.
To extend exploration activities at the Concession Contract 4894, Gramalote Colombia submitted an integration request between the contracts 4894 and QHQ16081 in August 2023. If the mining authority approves the integration, Gramalote Colombia will have 11 additional years after the integration approval to advance exploration in these areas.
The Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of December 31, 2024.
Gramalote Project Indicated Mineral Resources Statement
| Area | Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | Gold Grade<br>(g/t Au) | Contained Gold<br>Ounces <br>(x 1,000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gramalote Ridge | 192,710 | 0.68 | 4,220 |
| Total Indicated Mineral Resources | 192,710 | 0.68 | 4,220 |
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Gramalote Project Inferred Mineral Resources Statement
| Area | Tonnes<br>(x 1,000) | Gold Grade<br>(g/t Au) | Contained Gold<br>Ounces <br>(x 1,000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gramalote Ridge | 12,220 | 0.48 | 190 |
| Monjas West | 21,090 | 0.64 | 430.0 |
| Trinidad | 48,640 | 0.51 | 790.0 |
| Total Inferred Mineral Resources | 81,950 | 0.54 | 1,420 |
Notes:
Mineral Resources have been classified using the CIM Standards. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of December 31, 2024.
The Qualified Person for the resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration.
Mineral Resources assume an open pit mining method.
Mineral Resource estimates are reported within a conceptual pit based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 81.7–84% for oxide and 87.6–97.6% for sulphide, mining cost estimates of US$2.61–US$2.92/t mined (average mining cost), processing cost of US$6.02–US$6.17 for oxide, US$9.36–US$9.51/t for sulphide processed (processing) and US$2.34/t processed (site general), and selling costs of US$70.37/oz including royalties and levies.
Mineral Resources are reported at cut-off grades of 0.16 g/t gold for oxide and 0.19 g/t gold for sulphide.
All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.
On June 18, 2024, the Company announced the results of a positive PEA on the Gramalote Project. The PEA outlines a significant production profile of 234,000 ounces of annual gold production for the first five years, with average annual gold production of 185,000 ounces over a 12.5 year project life with a low-cost structure and favorable metallurgical characteristics. Additionally, the PEA outlines strong economics with an after-tax NPV (5%) of $778 million and an after-tax internal rate of return of 20.6%, with a project payback on pre-production capital of 3.1 years at a long-term gold price of $2,000 per ounce. The pre-production capital cost for the project was estimated to be $807 million (including approximately $93 million for mining equipment and $63 million for contingency). A robust amount of historical drilling and engineering studies have been completed on the Gramalote Project, which significantly de-risks future project development. Based on the positive results from the PEA, B2Gold believes that the Gramalote Project has the potential to become a medium-scale, low-cost open pit gold mine. The PEA is preliminary in nature and is based on Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the engineering and economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA based on these Mineral Resources will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
B2Gold has commenced feasibility work with the goal of completing a feasibility study by mid-2025. Due to the work completed for previous studies, the work remaining to finalize a feasibility study for the updated medium-scale project is not extensive. The main work programs for the feasibility study include geotechnical and environmental site investigations for the processing plant and waste dump footprints, as well as capital and operating cost estimates. Those work programs, as well as processing engineering and site infrastructure design, are underway and the study is on schedule. The Gramalote Project will continue to advance resettlement programs, establish coexistence programs for small miners, work on health, safety and environmental projects and continue to work with the government and local communities on social programs. The Gramalote Project continues to benefit from local, regional, and national government support as well as continuing support from local communities.
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Due to the desired modifications to the processing plant and infrastructure locations, a Modified Environmental Impact Study is required. B2Gold has commenced work on the modifications to the Environmental Impact Study and expects it to be completed and submitted shortly following the completion of the feasibility study. If the final economics of the feasibility study are positive and B2Gold makes the decision to develop the Gramalote Project as an open pit gold mine, B2Gold would use its proven internal mine construction team to build the mine and mill facilities.
Capital expenditures in 2025 at Gramalote are expected to be relatively consistent throughout the year, totaling $28 million related primarily to feasibility study costs and ongoing care and maintenance.
RISK FACTORS
The exploration, development and mining of natural resources are highly speculative in nature and are subject to significant risks. The following risk factors could materially adversely affect our future business, operations and financial condition, and could cause actual events to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements. The risks factors noted below do not necessarily comprise all risks faced by us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial may also impair our business, operations and future prospects. If any such risks occur, our business may be harmed, and our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.
Changes in the price of gold and other metals in the world markets, which can fluctuate widely, significantly affect the profitability of our operations, our financial condition and our ability to develop new mines.
The profitability of our operations is significantly affected by changes in the market price of gold and other mineral commodities. Mineral prices fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including: interest rates; the rate and anticipated rate of inflation; world supply of mineral commodities; consumption patterns; purchases and sales of gold by central banks; forward sales by producers; production costs; demand from the jewelry industry; speculative activities; stability of exchange rates; the relative strength of the U.S. dollar and other currencies; changes in international investment patterns; monetary systems; and political and economic events.
Although the price of gold increased over the most recently completed fiscal year, from $2,062.40 per ounce on January 2, 2024 to $2,610.85 on December 31, 2024, future price declines could cause commercial production or the development of new mines to be impracticable or unpredictable. If gold prices decline significantly, or decline for an extended period of time, we may be unable to continue our operations, develop our properties, fulfill our obligations under our permits and licences or under our agreements with our partners, or continue to pay dividends at the current rate or at all. As a result, we could be forced to discontinue our operations or development activities, or to abandon or sell our interest in some or all of our properties, which could have a negative effect on our profitability and cash flow.
Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves are estimated and revision or restatement of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves could have a material adverse effect on our profitability, results of operations and financial condition.
There is a degree of uncertainty attributable to the estimation of Mineral Resources (within the meaning of NI 43-101), Mineral Reserves (within the meaning of NI 43-101) and expected mineral grades. The Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates included or incorporated by reference herein have been determined and valued based on assumed or estimated future prices, cut-off grades and operating costs. However, until mineral deposits are actually mined and processed, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves must be considered as estimates only. Any such estimates are expressions of judgment based on knowledge, mining experience, analysis of drilling results and industry practices.
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Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves may require revision based on actual production experience. Market fluctuations in the price of metals, as well as increased production costs, results of metallurgical testing and reduced recovery rates, may render certain Mineral Reserves uneconomic and may ultimately result in a restatement of Mineral Resources and/or Mineral Reserves. Short-term operating factors relating to the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, such as the need for sequential development of ore bodies, may adversely affect our profitability in any accounting period. Estimates of operating costs are based on assumptions including those relating to inflation and currency exchange, which may prove incorrect. Estimates of mineralization can be imprecise and depend upon geometallurgical assumptions, geological interpretation and statistical inferences drawn from drilling and sampling analysis, which may prove to be unreliable. In addition, the grade and/or quantity of precious metals ultimately recovered may differ from that indicated by drilling results. There can be no assurance that precious metals recovered in small scale tests will be duplicated in large scale tests under onsite conditions or at production scale. Amendments to mine plans and production profiles may be required as the amount of Mineral Resources changes or upon receipt of further information during the implementation phase of the particular project. Extended declines in market prices for gold may render portions of our mineralization uneconomic and result in reduced reported mineralization. Any material reduction in estimates of mineralization, or in our ability to develop its properties and extract and sell such minerals, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our failure to achieve production, cost and other estimates could have a material adverse effect on our future cash flows, profitability, results of operations and financial condition.
Our public disclosure contains guidance and estimates of future production, operating costs, capital costs and other economic and financial measures with respect to our existing mines and certain of our exploration and development stage projects. The estimates can change, or we may be unable to achieve them. Actual production, costs, returns and other economic and financial performance may vary from the estimates depending on a variety of factors, many of which are not within our control. These factors include, but are not limited to: actual ore mined varying from estimates of grade, tonnage, dilution, and metallurgical and other characteristics; short-term operating factors such as the need for sequential development of ore bodies and the processing of new or different ore grades from those planned; mine failures, slope failures or equipment failures; accidents; natural phenomena such as inclement weather conditions, floods, droughts, rock slides and earthquakes; encountering unusual or unexpected geological conditions; regional epidemic or pandemic of disease, including the spread of COVID-19; changes in power costs and potential power shortages; exchange rate and commodity price fluctuations; price changes or shortages of principal supplies needed for operations, including construction materials, explosives, fuels, water and equipment parts; labour shortages or strikes; litigation; regional or national instability, imposition of sanctions, insurrection, war or acts of terrorism or violent crime; suspensions or closures imposed by governmental authorities; civil disobedience and protests; failure to comply with applicable regulations, or new restrictions or regulations, imposed by governmental or regulatory authorities; permitting or licencing issues; difficulties in resettlement processes, when required; claims by landowners; overlapping with other activities declared as activities for the public benefit; issues arising from the presence of illegal miners; obstacles and requisites imposed by local financial entities; shipping interruptions or delays; or other risks described herein. The failure to achieve production, cost and other estimates could have a material adverse effect on our future cash flows, profitability, results of operations and financial condition.
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Our capital and operating costs, production schedules and economic returns are based on material assumptions which may prove to be inaccurate.
Our expected capital and operating costs, production schedules and estimates, anticipated economic returns and other projections, estimates and forecasts for its mineral properties that are included or incorporated by reference herein or included in any technical reports, scoping studies, pre-feasibility studies and feasibility studies prepared for or by us are based on assumed or estimated future metals prices, cut-off grades, operating costs, capital costs, metallurgical recoveries, that the actual ore mined is amenable to mining or treatment, environmental considerations, labour volumes, permitting and other factors, any of which may prove to be inaccurate. As a result, technical reports, scoping studies, pre-feasibility studies and feasibility studies prepared for or by us may prove to be unreliable.
Our capital and operating costs are affected by the cost and availability of commodities and goods such as steel, cement, explosives, fuel, electrical power and supplies, including reagents. Significant declines in market prices for gold and other metals could have an adverse effect on our economic projections. Management assumes that the materials and supplies required for operations will be available for purchase and that we will have access to the required amount of sufficiently skilled labour. As we rely upon certain third-party suppliers and contractors, these factors can be outside of our control and an increase in the costs of, or a lack of availability of, commodities, goods and labour may have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
We may experience difficulty in obtaining the necessary permits for our exploration, development or operational activities, if such permits are obtained at all, and may face penalties as a result of violations of permits or other environmental laws, which may cause delays and increases to projected budgets. Any of these discrepancies from our expected capital and operating costs, production schedules and economic returns could cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We have in the past, and may in the future, provide estimates and projections of our future production, costs and financial results. Any such information is forward looking. Neither our auditors nor any other independent expert or outside party compiles or examines these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no such person expresses any opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto. Such estimates are made by our management and technical personnel and are qualified by, and subject to the assumptions, contained or referred to in the filing, release or presentation in which they are made, including assumptions about the availability, accessibility, sufficiency and quality of mineralized material, our costs of production, the market prices of gold and other metals, our ability to sustain and increase production levels, the sufficiency of our infrastructure, the performance of our personnel and equipment, our ability to maintain and obtain mining interests and permits, the state of governments and community relations, and our compliance with existing and future laws and regulations. Actual results and experience may differ materially from these assumptions. Failure to achieve estimates or material increases to costs could have a material adverse impact on our future cashflows, profitability, results of operations and financial condition. Any such production, cost, or financial results estimates speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we disclaim any intent or obligation to update such estimates, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, such forward-looking statements should be considered in the context in which they are made and undue reliance should not be placed on them.
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We may experience difficulties as a result of operating in remote locations which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Certain of our operations are located in remote areas and are affected by severe weather events and climate issues, resulting in technical challenges for conducting both geological exploration and mining operations. Although we benefit from modern mining technology, we may sometimes be unable to overcome problems related to weather and climate, either expeditiously or at a commercially reasonable cost, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Goose Project is located in the Back River Gold District in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut in northern Canada, 520 km northest of Yellowknife, the nearest territorial capital city. Our operations are constrained by the remoteness of the Back River Gold District, particularly as the WIR is the only route between the MLA and the Goose Project site, and it is open only during the coldest months of the year. Most of the materials that we require for the operation of the Goose Project must be transported through the MLA during the short shipping season, which may be further truncated due to weather conditions. If we are unable to acquire and transport necessary supplies during this time, it may result in a slowdown or stoppage of operations and/or cost increases at the Goose Project. Furthermore, if major equipment fails, items necessary to replace or repair such equipment may have to be shipped through the MLA during this shipping window. Failure to have available the necessary materials required for operations or to repair or replace malfunctioning equipment may require the slowdown or stoppage of operations. The remoteness of the Goose Project also necessitates the use of fly-in/fly-out camps for the accommodation of site employees and contractors, which may have an impact on our ability to attract and retain qualified mining, exploration and/or construction personnel.
Mineral exploration and development are speculative and involve significant risks and uncertainties, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our business plans and projections rely significantly on the planned development of our non-producing properties. The development of mineral deposits involves significant risks that even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate. Few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines and no assurance can be given that minerals will be discovered in sufficient quantities, with sufficient grade to justify commercial operations, or that funds required for development can be obtained on a timely basis. Major expenses may be required to locate and establish Mineral Reserves, to develop metallurgical processes and to construct mining and processing facilities at a particular site. It is impossible to ensure that the exploration or development programs we or any of our joint venture partners plan will result in a profitable commercial mining operation.
Properties not yet in production, such as the Goose Project, starting production, or slated for expansion are subject to higher risks as new mining operations often experience unexpected problems during the start-up phase, and production delays and cost adjustments can often happen. Further, feasibility studies, pre-feasibility studies, and preliminary economic assessments contain project-specific estimates of future production, which are based on a variety of factors and assumptions. We can provide no assurance that such estimates will be achieved and the failure to achieve production or cost estimates or material increases in costs could have a material adverse effect on our future cash flows, profitability, operations, financial condition and our share price.
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In addition, developments, such as the Goose Project, are prone to material cost overruns versus budget. The capital expenditures and time required to develop new mines, including building mining and processing facilities for new properties, are considerable, and changes in cost or construction schedules can significantly increase both the time and capital required to build the mine. The project development schedules are also dependent on obtaining the governmental approvals and permits necessary for the operation of a mine which is often beyond our control. It is not unusual in the mining industry for new mining operations to experience unexpected problems during the start-up phase, resulting in delays and requiring more capital than anticipated. We can provide no assurance that there will be sufficient availability of funds to finance construction and development activities, particularly if unexpected problems arise.
At the Goose Project, construction costs and the estimated completion time may be negatively impacted as result of inflation, labour availability and productivity, the availability of equipment and materials, weather, market conditions or other events that impact construction and commissioning schedules and may have a material adverse effect on our business operations, liquidity, and capital resources. On September 12, 2024, we announced that the costs of construction, mine development and sustaining capital cash expenditures increased by approximately CDN$290 million. The construction budget increases have been driven by a variety of factors, including labour and site operating costs, inflation, global supply chain issues, logistics of operating in the Northern terrain, addressing design deficiencies in power generation and distribution, laboratory, piping, and controls and instrumentation, and we may experience further increases in capital expenditures and construction and delays in the commencement of mining activity or commissioning of the mill, which ultimately could impact the timing of the first gold pour, which is expected by the end of the second quarter of 2025. Actual costs and economic returns from the Goose Project may differ materially from our estimates and variances from expectations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and results of operations and liquidity.
Other risks associated with mineral exploration and development include but are not limited to: the availability and costs of skilled labour and the ability of key contractors to perform services in the manner contracted for; unanticipated changes in grade and tonnage of ore to be mined and processed; unanticipated adverse geotechnical and geological conditions; incorrect data on which engineering assumptions are made; potential increases in construction and operating costs due to shortages of and/or changes in the cost of fuel, power, materials, security and supplies; adequate access to the site and unanticipated transportation costs or disruptions; potential opposition or obstruction from NGOs, environmental groups or Indigenous groups or local groups, which may delay or prevent development activities; equipment failures; natural phenomena; exchange rate and commodity price fluctuations; high rates of inflation; civil disobedience, protests and acts of civil unrest or terrorism; applicable taxes and restrictions or regulations imposed by governmental or regulatory authorities or other changes in the regulatory environments; and other risks associated with mining described herein.
The combination of these factors may result in our inability to develop our non-producing properties, to achieve or maintain historical or estimated production, revenue or cost levels, or to receive an adequate return on invested capital, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.
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Our operations across several different countries subject us to various political, economic and other risks that could negatively impact our operations and financial condition.
Our exploration, development and production activities are conducted in various countries, including the Philippines, Namibia, Mali, Canada, and Colombia. As a result, our operations are exposed to various levels of political, economic, criminal and other risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties vary from country to country and include, but are not limited to: the existence or possibility of political or economic instability including international trade disputes and the imposition of tariffs; conflict; terrorism; hostage taking; violent crime; military repression; extreme fluctuations in currency exchange rates; high rates of inflation; labour unrest; war or civil unrest; expropriation and nationalization; governmental legislation and regulations relating to foreign investment and the mining industry; changes in taxation laws or policies or changes in the interpretation of such taxation laws or policies; uncertainty as to the outcome of any litigation in foreign jurisdictions; uncertainty as to enforcement of local laws; environmental controls and permitting; restrictions on the use of land and natural resources; renegotiation or nullification of existing concessions, licences, permits and contracts; illegal mining; imposition of sanctions; restrictions on foreign exchange and repatriation; corruption; unstable legal systems; changing political conditions; changes in mining laws and social policies; social unrest on account of poverty or unequal income distribution; economic empowerment, Indigenous or local ownership legislation; disease; currency controls and governmental regulations that favor or require the awarding of contracts to local contractors or require foreign contractors to employ citizens of, or purchase supplies from, a particular jurisdiction or require equity participation by local citizens; and other risks arising out of foreign sovereignty issues.
We have interests in exploration and development properties located in developing countries, including Mali, the Philippines, Namibia and Colombia, and our mineral exploration and mining activities may be affected to varying degrees by political instability and governmental legislation and regulations relating to foreign investment and the mining industry. Some of these countries have experienced, or are currently experiencing, varying degrees of civil unrest and instability. Changes, if any, in mining or investment laws or policies, political attitude or the level of stability in such countries may adversely affect our operations or profitability.
Our operations across several different countries subject us to various political and economic risks associated with increasing control and nationalization that could negatively impact our operations and financial condition. ****
Governments throughout the world are continuing to target the mining and metals sector to raise government revenue. Numerous countries, including certain of those in which we operate, have introduced changes to their respective mining regimes that reflect increased government control or participation in the mining sector, including, but not limited to: changes of laws or governmental regulations affecting foreign ownership; mandatory state participation; citizenship participation in decisions related to mining activities; delegating to municipal authorities to determine the use of soil; taxation and royalties; exchange controls; permitting and licencing of exploration, development and production; land use restrictions; price controls, export controls, and export and import duties; restrictions on repatriation of income or return of capital; requirements for local processing of mineral products; environmental protection; collectability of outstanding VAT receivables; requirements for employment of local staff or contractors; and requirements for contributions to infrastructure and social support systems. The impact of resource nationalization could have a material adverse effect on our business, our operations, and our profitability.
We can provide no assurance that the countries in which we operate that have yet to adopt resource nationalization frameworks or regimes will not do so in the future. We can also provide no assurance that the terms and obligations of resource nationalization regimes to which our operations are subject will not increase or become more onerous. Government policy is beyond our control, may change without warning, and could have the effect of discouraging further investment in our operations or limit the economic value we may derive therefrom.
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Furthermore, we can provide no assurance that our assets will not be subject to specific nationalization or expropriation measures, whether legitimate or not, by any authority or body, whether state sanctioned or otherwise. While there are often frameworks and mechanisms to seek compensation and reimbursement for losses in these kinds of circumstances, there is no assurance that such measures will effectively or sufficiently compensate us (and our investors), nor is there any assurance that such compensation would occur in a timely fashion. Further, the nationalization, expropriation, abandonment or condemnation of any of our material properties could create an event of default under our Revolving Credit Facility which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position.
Our operations in Mali may be subject to governmental and other risks that could have unforeseen and potentially material and adverse impacts on our business, operations, financial condition and assets.
In 2023, the Malian Government undertook some major reforms in the mining sector. The 2023 Mining Code and a local content law were adopted on August 29, 2023. The 2023 Mining Code provides for an increase in Mali’s potential interest in new mining projects from 20% to 30%. The Government’s initial interest is maintained at 10%, but the additional interest that may be acquired by the Government has increased from 10% to 20%, with a further 5% interest that must be available to be acquired by a local Malian stakeholder, raising the aggregate state and private Malian interests in new projects to a potential total ownership interest of 35%.
The 2023 Mining Code introduced some other key changes including increase of taxes and in particular, the TAV, elimination of tax exoneration on petroleum products during exploitation phase, introduction of new funds the contributions to which are based on revenue, limited tax and customs regimes stabilisation, separate mining convention to be signed for the exploration and for the exploitation phase. At the same time, the Malian Government adopted a local content law that will require mining companies and sub-contractors to give priority for procurement of locally produced materials and provision of services by local companies in the mining sector. Implementation decrees of the 2023 Mining Code and the local content law were adopted on July 9, 2024, and as a consequence both laws are now fully effective. In addition, decrees relating to the implementation of the new mining funds provided in the 2023 Mining Code were adopted on March 11, 2025, and as a consequence these funds are now fully enforceable.
Following the 2022 national audit of mining companies to determine if Mali was receiving a fair share of the profits generated by its mining sector, the Government suspended the issuing of exploration and exploitation mining licenses. On March 15, 2025, the Government lifted suspension of certain permitting matters: (i) applications for renewal of exploration and exploitation permits, (ii) applications for transition from the exploration phase to the exploitation phase, and (iii) applications for direct or indirect transfer of exploitation permits. Production from the Anaconda Area depends on the Government issuing a new exploitation permit for the Anaconda Area.
In 2023, the State of Mali established a commission comprised of Malian Government advisors and representatives which was tasked with negotiating certain aspects of existing mining conventions and clarifying the application of the 2023 Mining Code to both existing and new mining projects. Following an extensive negotiation process, we entered into the 2024 MOU with the State of Mali in September 2024. The 2024 MOU includes an overall framework which covers the settlement of outstanding matters arising from the State of Mali's mining audit, income tax and customs audits, as well as clarification and agreement on the application of the 2023 Mining Code to the Fekola Mine and Fekola Regional. However, no assurances can be provided that the State of Mali will not seek to amend or modify the terms of the 2024 MOU and we can provide no assurance that the implementation and enforcement process will not have an adverse effect on our profitability and results of operations.
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The numerous conflicts in the Sahel region led three countries, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, to create the Alliance of Sahel States ("AES"), causing a deterioration in relations with Economic Community of West African States ("ECOWAS"). On January 29, 2025, the withdrawal of the three countries was formalized by ECOWAS. During this period, these countries continued to strengthen their cooperation with Russia, particularly on the military and economic fronts.
The military junta has yet to schedule an election to transition back to a democratic civilian government, resulting in mounting security and economic costs to the population. President Goïta appointed a new Prime Minister in November 2024. Since then, the political class has become more active and the organization of the next elections is back on the agenda but still no specific calendar has been scheduled for a return to constitutional order.
The transition authorities further increased their footprint on the media and opposition voices, narrowing civic space. Economic conditions have also deteriorated over the past years, characterized by a rise in poverty, lack of sufficient health care, and a persistent energy crisis. The ongoing instability in Mali and changes to the political and security situation there could have unforeseen and potentially material and adverse impacts on our business, operations, financial condition and assets.
Our operations in Namibia may be subject to governmental and other risks that could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.
Namibia is a member of the Southern African Customs Union (“SACU”), which provides for a common external tariff and guarantees free movement of goods between its member states. A high proportion of Namibia’s trade is conducted with SACU members. The Namibian Government is highly dependent on SACU revenue, but Namibia’s share of the SACU revenue is expected to decline in the foreseeable future, and as a result the Namibian Government may introduce additional taxes or increase current tax rates, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business.
In 2015/2016, Namibia released two versions of the Namibia Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework bill (the "NEEEF Bill"), a controversial bill which proposed, in effect, the forced transfer of 25% of the shares or economic interest in any business enterprise conducting business in Namibia to certain designated persons, being persons of colour, women and disabled persons ("Designated Persons"). While the NEEEF Bill contained various controversial provisions, which may ultimately render it unconstitutional, it caused considerable uncertainty in the Namibian business community and the investor community, and as a result it remains under discussion and revision. During March 2018, the President of Namibia, in his State of the Nation Address, announced that the controversial 25% ownership pillar would be abolished. In February 2020, the latest version of the NEEEF Bill was presented to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation (the "2020 NEEEF Bill"). While the 2020 NEEEF Bill removed many of the controversial provisions contained in the previous versions, it created additional uncertainty in that its application appears to be dependent on the promulgation of what is referred to as "Standards" by the Minister who administers the 2020 NEEEF Bill, and the ambit of such "Standards" has not been set. The 2020 NEEEF Bill may likewise be unconstitutional. It is not clear whether there will be a further round of consultation on the bill, and regulations and "Standards" would need to be promulgated before the bill, in whatever revised form, becomes operative. While the 2020 NEEEF Bill is not publicly available, there is a document in circulation which has been referred to in a recent speech by the Prime Minister as the National Equitable Economic Empowerment Act, 2021, which appears to contain the substantive principles of the 2020 NEEEF Bill. At the date of this AIF, no further drafts of the 2020 NEEEF Bill have been circulated to the public.
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In Namibia, certain new mineral licences or renewals of existing mineral licences may be subject to certain terms and conditions relating to "Namibianisation", that is, transferring a portion (commonly 5%) of the shareholding in the respective licence holder to Namibian citizens, Namibian controlled companies, Designated Persons or companies held by Designated Persons, and undertaking social welfare or community upliftment obligations, specifically in respect of women and youth as well as the poor. It may also be subject to the licence holder appointing a certain percentage of its management (currently 20%) from Namibian citizens, specifically also Designated Persons. As of 2020, the aforesaid Namibianisation conditions are generally no longer applied by the Minister of Mines and Energy to new exclusive prospecting licences, but they are applied to new mining licences and, presumably, also to renewals of mining licences.
In 2016, the Namibian parliament passed a new investment law termed the Namibia Investment Promotion Act, 2016 (Namibia) (the "Namibia Investment Promotion Act"), which has not yet come into force. If it were to come into force, the Namibia Investment Promotion Act would materially change the legal basis upon which foreign investments are to be made, maintained and withdrawn from Namibia. The law provides for reservation of certain businesses to Namibians and requires approval of the Minister of Trade and Industrialisation, on essentially a discretionary basis, in connection with making an investment, expanding an investment and disinvesting. The law would also abolish the recourse of foreign investors to international tribunals by insisting that any disputes be exclusively dealt with under Namibian law and by Namibian courts. Further, the Namibia Investment Promotion Act may have a negative effect on investor security and new investments into Namibia. In the absence of regulations or guidelines with respect to the approval process, it is entirely at the discretion of the Minister to determine what type of foreign investments, changes to current investments or disinvestments will be allowed, and it is difficult at this stage to anticipate the extent to which the Namibia Investment Promotion Act would affect the Otjikoto Mine in practice. Towards the end of 2021, the Minister of Trade and Industrialisation re-introduced a further version of the Namibia Investment Promotion Act, which version, following public outcry, was quickly withdrawn on November 30, 2021 and is currently not before parliament. Any such legislation, upon becoming operative, would introduce changes to the foreign investment regime which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.
Our form of ownership of our assets in the Philippines may be subject to governmental appropriations that could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.
The Constitution of the Philippines provides that all natural resources are owned by the State, which may enter into a coproduction, joint venture or production sharing agreement with citizens of the Philippines, corporations or associations whose capital is at least 60% owned by Philippine citizens. Commonwealth Act No. 108, as amended (the "Anti-Dummy Act") provides penalties for, among others, (i) Filipinos who permit aliens to use them as nominees or dummies so that the aliens could enjoy privileges otherwise reserved for Filipinos or Filipino corporations, and (ii) aliens or foreigners who profit from the adoption of these dummy relationships. It also penalizes the act of falsely simulating the existence of minimum stock or capital as owned by citizens of the Philippines or any other country in cases in which a constitutional or legal provision requires that before a corporation or association may exercise or enjoy a right, franchise or privilege, not less than a certain percentage of its capital must be owned by such citizens. The Anti-Dummy Act likewise prohibits aliens from intervening in the management, operation, administration or control of nationalized businesses or enterprises, whether as officers, employees or labourers, with or without remuneration, except that aliens may take part in technical aspects only, provided (y) no Filipino can do such technical work, and (z) it is with express authority from the Secretary of Justice. The Anti-Dummy Act also allows the election of aliens as members of the boards of directors or the governing bodies of corporations or associations engaged in partially nationalised activities in proportion to their allowable participation or share in the capital of such entities. Our interests in the Masbate Gold Project is held through equity interests in companies owned by Philippine shareholders. There is the risk that, given the limited precedents to date in the country, the structure through which we hold the Masbate Gold Project could be challenged or require changes. The imposition of, or a failure to comply with, Philippine regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.
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Our operations in Colombia may be subject to security issues and criminal activity that could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.
The persistence of security issues in Colombia and the peace agreement signed with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the largest and oldest rebel group in Colombia, has created other security issues and has helped to strengthen criminal gangs and other small rebel groups in Colombia. While the Government of Colombia has been attempting to advance negotiations simultaneously with the ELN rebel group and certain criminal gangs with the aim of attaining general peace, the potential for security conditions to deteriorate and the development of new types of terrorism remains a risk with respect to our exploration and development at the Gramalote Project.
In addition, Colombia has a history of corruption, drug trafficking and illegal exploitation of minerals. Antioquia department, where the Gramalote Project is located, has one of the highest concentrations of illegal gold mining activities in Colombia. These circumstances could negatively impact our operations if they are not adequately addressed by authorities.
While Colombia has a steady legal system and independent judges and courts, inconsistencies in legal interpretation of laws applicable to mining, and sudden changes of the judges' and courts' positions, create risks and uncertainties for mining companies in Colombia. Further, non-governmental organizations ("NGOs"), academics and communities are frequently opposed to large-scale mining (and vocal about such opposition) as they consider it to be a threat to the environment and to social organization. Social movements have also had a significant impact in legal decisions aimed to protect the environment, the Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, and the people of areas affected by extractive projects. It is likely that social movements will continue as an influential factor with respect to Colombian political and legal decisions related to the mining industry. Such decisions can be unpredictable and could cause us to incur additional expense and affect the exploration and development of the Gramalote Project.
Our operations are subject to operating hazards and risks incidental to mining activities.
Mining operations generally involve a high degree of risk. Our operations are subject to all the hazards and risks normally encountered in the exploration, development and production of gold, including: unusual and unexpected geologic formations; seismic activity; rock bursts; cave-ins or slides; fire, explosions and flooding; pit wall failure and other structural collapses; periodic interruption due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions; and other conditions involved in the drilling and removal of material, any of which could result in damage to, or destruction of, mines and other producing facilities, personal injury or death, damage to property, environmental damage and possible legal liability. Milling operations are subject to hazards such as fire, flooding, equipment failure or failure of retaining dams around tailings disposal areas, which may result in environmental pollution and consequent liability. The occurrence of any of these events could result in a prolonged interruption of our operations, affect the profitability of our operations, lead to a loss of licences, damage community relations and adversely affect our reputation.
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Fluctuations in the price and availability of infrastructure and energy and other commodities could impact our profitability and development of projects.
Mining, processing, development and exploration activities depend on adequate infrastructure. Reliable roads, bridges, power sources and water supply are important determinants which affect capital and operating costs. Our inability to secure adequate water and power resources as well as other events outside of our control, such as unusual or infrequent weather phenomena, sabotage, terrorism, community or government or other interference in the maintenance or provision of such infrastructure, or failure to maintain or extend such infrastructure, could adversely affect our operations, financial condition and results of operations.
Profitability is affected by the market prices and availability of commodities that we use or consume for our operations and development projects. Prices for commodities like HFO, diesel fuel, electricity, steel, concrete, and chemicals (including cyanide) can be volatile, and in certain circumstances may be fixed by governments, and changes can be material, occur over short periods of time and be affected by factors beyond our control, including war or civil unrest. Our operations use a significant amount of energy and depend on suppliers to meet those needs. Higher costs for such required commodities and construction materials, including as a result of increased taxes on such commodities or construction materials or tighter supplies thereof, can affect the timing and cost of our development projects, and we may decide that it is not economically feasible to continue some or all of our commercial production and development activities, which could have an adverse effect on our profitability.
Higher worldwide demand for critical resources like input commodities, equipment, and skilled labour could affect our ability to acquire them and lead to delays in delivery and unanticipated cost increases, which in turn could have an effect on our operating costs, capital expenditures and production schedules.
We are subject to supply chain disruptions.
Our ability to mine, process and sell products is critical to our operations. Our operations depend on the continued availability and delivery of supplies of consumables and capital items to operate efficiently. In addition to consumables, continuous supplies of energy, water, equipment and spare parts, and labour are critical to our operations, the costs of which are subject to worldwide supply and demand as well as other factors beyond our control. Supply chain disruptions; power outages; labour disputes and/or strikes; geopolitical activity, health emergencies in the regions where we operate; weather events and natural disasters could seriously harm our operations as well as the operations of our customers and suppliers. Further, our suppliers may experience capacity limitations in their own operations or may elect to reduce or eliminate certain product lines, all of which is beyond our control but could have a material adverse effect on our operations and revenue.
We are subject to taxation in several different jurisdictions, and adverse changes to the taxation laws of such jurisdictions or unanticipated tax consequences of corporate reorganizations could have a material adverse effect on our performance and profitability.
We are subject to the taxation laws of several different jurisdictions. These taxation laws are complicated and subject to change, review and assessment in the ordinary course. Any changes in taxation law, as well as reviews or assessments, could result in us paying higher taxes, which in turn could adversely affect our performance and profitability. Taxes may also adversely affect our ability to repatriate earnings and otherwise deploy our assets. As noted above, governments have used new or increased taxes, including taxes specific to the mining industry, such as income taxes, excise taxes and royalties to raise government revenue. Although we have tax stabilization agreements with some of the countries in which we operate, there can be no certainty that such agreements will be upheld or not withdrawn in the future.
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While we have implemented initiatives to assess the impact of new and potential tax changes or reforms on our business and operations, we have no control over the adoption or implementation of such proposed legislative amendments, or the final form of any such tax changes which may or may not be as anticipated. In addition, governments have proposed tax amendments in the past and ultimately not followed through with them or adopted significant amendments. Accordingly, the timing and impact of any tax changes or reforms (including those described above), if adopted, and the extent to which they may have an impact on us, which may be material and adverse, is not presently known. Further, we can provide no assurance that we will be able to undertake steps to mitigate the effects of such tax changes to preserve or promote our economic performance.
We may complete intercorporate transactions, corporate reorganizations and reorganizations of the entities holding our projects. If such transactions and/or reorganizations result in the imposition of an unanticipated tax or penalty, it may have a material adverse effect on our business. We are also subject to ongoing tax audits from time to time. Adverse results of such tax audits may have a negative effect on our business.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, together with the G20 countries, has committed to reduce perceived abusive global tax avoidance, referred to as base erosion and profit shifting ("BEPS"). As part of this commitment, an action plan has been developed to address BEPS with the aim of securing revenue by realigning taxation with economic activities and value creation by creating a single set of consensus-based international tax rules dealing with various matters, such as the definition of permanent establishment and the taxation of hybrid instruments. As part of the BEPS project, a multilateral instrument ("MLI") intended to allow participating jurisdictions to swiftly modify their bilateral tax treaties to facilitate various BEPS initiatives has been ratified by a significant number of countries, including Canada. Further, consistent with the adoption of BEPS, Canada's Department of Finance has introduced (i) new excessive interest and financing expenses limitation (EIFEL) rules that would limit interest deduction in certain circumstances, (ii) legislation addressing hybrid mismatch arrangements and (iii) legislation to enact a Canadian "Global Minimum Tax Act". The BEPS project (including the foregoing initiatives) and the MLI may have a material impact on how our operating results are taxed, and may also give rise to additional reporting and disclosure obligations.
We may be unable to generate sufficient cash to service our debt, the terms of the agreements governing our debt may restrict our current or future operations, and the indebtedness may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our ability to make scheduled payments on any balance under the Revolving Credit Facility or to pay amounts due under the Convertible Notes or any other indebtedness will depend on our financial condition and operating performance, which in turn are subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business, legislative, regulatory and other factors beyond our control. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we could face substantial liquidity problems and could be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures, cease or reduce the payment of dividends, dispose of material assets or operations, seek additional debt or equity capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness, including any indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility or the Convertible Notes. We may not be able to implement any such alternative measures on commercially reasonable terms or at all and, even if successful, those alternatives may not allow us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations.
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In addition, a breach of the covenants, including the financial covenants under the Revolving Credit Facility or our other debt instruments from time to time, could result in an event of default under the applicable indebtedness unless we are able to obtain a waiver or consent in respect of any such breach. We cannot provide any assurance that a waiver or consent would be granted. A breach of any of these covenants or the inability to comply with the required financial tests or ratios could result in a default under the Revolving Credit Facility and under the Convertible Notes. In the event of any default under the Revolving Credit Facility and/or the Convertible Notes, the lenders, or as applicable the holders of the Convertible Notes could elect to declare all outstanding borrowings, together with accrued interest, fees and other amounts due thereunder, to be immediately due and payable, which may have a material adverse impact on our business, profitability or financial condition.
The Revolving Credit Facility contains several covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions and may limit our ability to engage in acts that may be in our long-term best interest. In particular, the Revolving Credit Facility restricts our ability to dispose of assets, to make dividends or distributions, and to incur additional indebtedness and grant security interests or encumbrances. As a result of these restrictions, we may be limited in how we conduct our business, unable to raise additional debt or equity financing, or unable to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities, each of which may affect our ability to grow in accordance with our strategy.
Further, maintenance of our debt could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could adversely affect our flexibility to take advantage of corporate opportunities. Our indebtedness could have important consequences, including:
- limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other general corporate requirements, or requiring us to make non-strategic divestitures;
- requiring a substantial portion of our cash flows to be dedicated to debt service payments instead of other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of cash flows available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
- increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
- exposing us to the risk of increased interest rates for any borrowings at variable rates of interest;
- limiting our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in the industry in which we compete;
- placing us at a disadvantage compared to other, less leveraged competitors; and
- increasing our cost of borrowing.
Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
Our principal assets and operations are located in various countries including Mali, Namibia, the Philippines, and Canada. As a result, we have foreign currency exposure with respect to items not denominated in U.S. dollars. The three main types of foreign exchange risk we face can be categorized as follows:
- Transaction exposure: our operations sell commodities and incur costs in different currencies. This creates exposure at the operational level, which may affect our profitability as exchange rates fluctuate;
- Exposure to currency risk: we are exposed to currency risk through a portion of the following assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar: cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, trade, income tax and other payables, equipment loan facilities, reclamation and closure costs obligations, warrants and gross balance exposure; and
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- Translation exposure: our functional and reporting currency of all consolidated entities is U.S. dollars. Our other operations may have assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, with translation foreign exchange gains and losses included from these balances in the determination of profit or loss. Therefore, as the exchange rates between the Canadian dollar, Philippine peso, Namibian dollar, West African CFA franc (which is pegged to the Euro) and the Euro fluctuate against the U.S. dollar, we will experience foreign exchange gains and losses, which can have a significant impact on our consolidated operating results.
As a result, fluctuations in currency exchange rates could significantly affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
Our operations are subject to stringent laws and regulations, which could significantly limit our ability to conduct our business.
Our activities are subject to stringent laws and regulations governing, among other things: prospecting, development and production; imports and exports; taxes; labour standards and occupational health and mine safety; mineral tenure, land title and land use; environmental protection, including protection of endangered and protected species; social legislation and laws related to the protection and title of Indigenous peoples; and other matters. Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may result in enforcement actions or other liabilities, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities suspending or curtailing operations, or requiring corrective measures, installation of additional equipment, or remedial actions, any of which could result in significant expenditures, loss of permits, reduced or suspended production and damage to our reputation. We can provide no assurance that we have been or will be at all times in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, that compliance will not be challenged, or that the costs of complying with current and future laws and regulations will not materially or adversely affect our business, operations or results. New laws and regulations, amendments to existing laws and regulations, administrative interpretation, or more stringent enforcement of existing laws and regulations, whether in response to changes in the political or social environment we operate in or otherwise, could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to operate successfully, including our ability to continue our operations, results of operations, future cash flow and financial condition.
Mineral rights or surface rights to our properties may be subject to renewal or extension requirements which may not be granted or such rights could be challenged, and, if a renewal or extension is not granted or a challenge is successful, it could have a material adverse effect on our production and results of operations.
Our ability to carry out successful mineral exploration, development activities and mining operations will depend on several factors including compliance with our obligations with respect to acquiring and maintaining title to our interest in certain properties. The acquisition of title to mineral properties is a very detailed and time-consuming process. No guarantee can be given that we will be able to comply with all such conditions and obligations, or to require third parties to comply with their obligations with respect to such properties. Furthermore, while it is common practice that permits and licences may be renewed, extended or transferred into other forms of licences appropriate for ongoing operations, no guarantee can be given that a renewal, extension or transfer will be granted to us or, if they are granted, that we will be in a position to comply with all conditions that are imposed. Several of our interests are the subject of pending applications to register assignments, extend the term, and increase the area, or to convert licences to concession contracts or exploitation permits, and there is no assurance that such applications will be approved as submitted.
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Further, the interests in our properties may not be free from defects, and the contracts between us and the entities owned or controlled by a foreign government may be unilaterally altered or revoked. We can provide no assurance that our rights and title interests will not be significantly challenged, altered or revoked, whether by state authorities, Indigenous groups, third parties or otherwise, to our detriment. Our interests in properties may be subject to prior unregistered liens, agreements, claims or transfers and title may be affected by, among other things, undetected defects or governmental actions.
Undue reliance should not be placed on estimates of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources since these estimates are subject to numerous uncertainties. Our actual Mineral Reserves could be lower than Mineral Reserve estimates and Mineral Resources may never be converted into Mineral Reserves, which could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
We must continually replace and expand our Mineral Reserves and any necessary associated surface rights as our mines produce gold. The LoM estimate for each of our operating mines is based on our best estimate in respect of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources given the information available to us.
Actual ore mined may vary from estimates of grade, tonnage, dilution and metallurgical and other characteristics, and there is no assurance that the indicated level of recovery will be realized or that Mineral Reserves could be mined or processed profitably. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources, including many factors beyond our control. Such estimation is a subjective process, and the accuracy of any Mineral Reserve or Mineral Resource estimate is a function of the quantity and quality of available data and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation. Short-term operating factors relating to the Mineral Reserves, such as the need for orderly development of the ore bodies or the processing of new or different ore grades, may cause the mining operation to be unprofitable in any particular accounting period. We can provide no assurance that gold recoveries in small scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in larger scale tests under on-site conditions or during production.
In addition, fluctuation in gold prices, results of drilling, metallurgical testing and production, increases in capital and operating costs, including the cost of labour, equipment, fuel and other required inputs and the evaluation of mine plans after the date of any estimate may require revision of such estimate. Any material reductions in estimates of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources, or of our ability to extract these Mineral Reserves, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Our LoM estimates and production schedule at the Otjikoto Mine assumes blending production from low-grade stockpile material that has been classified as Indicated Mineral Resources and not Mineral Reserves. Although we have been successful in converting Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves in the past, there is no certainty of converting Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves and it may not be successful in the future. Due to uncertainty that may attach to Inferred Mineral Resources, there is no certainty that Inferred Mineral Resources will be upgraded to Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources or Proven and Probable Reserves as a result of continued exploration.
Investors, including U.S. investors, are cautioned that "inferred mineral resources" have a lower level of confidence than that applying to "indicated mineral resources" and cannot be directly converted to a "mineral reserve". Qualified persons have determined that it is reasonably expected that the majority of the reported "inferred mineral resources" could be upgraded to "indicated mineral resources" with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" exists or is economically or legally mineable without further work.
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We require licences, permits and approvals from various governmental authorities to conduct our operations, the failure to obtain or loss of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our mining operations in Mali, the Philippines and Namibia, our mine under construction in Nunavut, and our various exploration and development projects, are subject to receiving and maintaining licences, permits and approvals from appropriate governmental authorities. Although our mining operations currently have all required material, licences, permits and approvals, and approvals that we believe are necessary for the operations as currently conducted, no assurance can be provided that we will be able to maintain and renew such licences and permits or obtain any other permits or approvals that may be required.
There have been challenges to permits that were temporarily successful and delays in the renewal of certain permits. We can provide no assurance that delays will not occur in connection with obtaining necessary renewals of authorizations for existing operations, additional licences, permits and approvals for future operations, or additional licences, permits and approvals associated with new legislation or changes in interpretation by governments or courts. An inability to obtain, or to conduct our mining operations pursuant to, applicable authorizations would materially reduce our production and cash flow and could negatively impact our profitability.
We are subject to risks relating to environmental regulations and our properties may be subject to environmental hazards, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.
Our operations are subject to local laws and regulations regarding environmental matters, including, without limitation, the renewal of environmental clearance certificates, the use or abstraction of water, land use and reclamation, air quality, and the discharge of mining wastes and materials. Any changes in these laws could affect our operations and economics. Amendments or modifications to current environmental laws, regulations and permits governing operations and activities of exploration companies, or more stringent implementation thereof, could have a material adverse impact on us and cause increases in expenditures and costs or require abandonment or delays in developing new mining properties. We cannot predict how agencies or courts in foreign countries will interpret existing laws and regulations or the effect that these adoptions and interpretations may have on our business or financial condition. Parties engaged in exploration operations may be required to compensate those suffering loss or damage by reason of the exploration activities and may have civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violations of applicable laws or regulations, in particular, environmental laws. In addition, our Masbate Gold Project is subject to periodic audit by the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Any adverse outcome as a result of such audits may have a material and adverse effect on our business, operations, production estimates and financial condition.
We may be required to make significant expenditures to comply with governmental laws and regulations. Any significant mining operations will have some environmental impact, including land and habitat impact, arising from the use of land for mining and related activities, and certain impact on water resources near the project sites, resulting from water use, rock disposal and drainage run-off. We may also acquire properties with known or undiscovered environmental risks. Any claim against or indemnification from the entity from whom we have acquired such properties may not be adequate to pay all the fines, penalties and costs (such as clean-up and restoration costs) incurred related to such properties.
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Some of our properties were used for mining and related operations for many years before we acquired them and were acquired as is or with assumed environmental liabilities from previous owners or operators. We have been required to address contamination at our properties in the past and may need to continue to do so in the future, either for existing environmental conditions or for leaks or discharges that may arise from our ongoing operations or other contingencies. Contamination from hazardous substances, either at our own properties or other locations for which we may be responsible, may subject us to liability for the investigation or remediation of contamination, as well as for claims seeking to recover for related property damage, personal injury or damage to natural resources. The occurrence of any of these adverse events could have a material adverse effect on our future growth, results of operations and financial position.
Production at certain of our mines involves the use of sodium cyanide, which is a toxic material. Despite designs to protect against a release or discharge, there is an inherent risk of an unintended discharge of hazardous materials for example from a heap leach or tailings facility. If sodium cyanide escapes from industrial infrastructure or is detected in surface and groundwater downstream, we could be subject to liability for remediation costs, which could be significant and may not be insured against. In addition, metal production could be delayed or halted to prevent further discharges and to allow for remediation. Such delays or cessations in production could be long-term or, in some cases, permanent, and any interference with production could result in a significant reduction in, or loss of, cash flow and value. While appropriate steps may be taken to prevent discharges of pollutants, including sodium cyanide and other hazardous materials into the ground water, surface water, and the downstream environment, there is inherent risk in the use and operation of sodium cyanide and there can be no assurance that a release of hazardous materials will not occur and such liability and reputational harm could be material.
There can be no assurance that a tailings dam or other tailings facility safety incident will not occur in the case of an extreme natural event. Such an incident could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Natural resource companies are required to close their operations and rehabilitate the lands that they mine in accordance with a variety of environmental laws and regulations. In order to carry out reclamation obligations imposed on us in connection with exploration, development and production activities, we must allocate financial resources that might otherwise be spent on further exploration and development programs. The actual costs of mine closure and reclamation are uncertain and planned expenditures may differ from the actual expenditures required. There is a risk that monies allotted for mine closure land reclamation may not be sufficient to cover all risks, due to changes in the nature of the waste rock or tailings and/or revisions to government regulations. Therefore, additional funds, or reclamation bonds or other forms of financial assurance, may be required over the tenure of any of our projects to cover potential risks. These additional costs may have material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Estimates of the total ultimate closure and rehabilitation costs for mining operations can be significant and are based principally on current legal and regulatory requirements and mine closure plans that may change materially.
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No assurance can be provided that exploration, development and mining activities will not give rise in the future to significant liabilities on our part to government and/or third parties and may require us to incur substantial costs of remediation. Additionally, we do not maintain insurance against environmental risks. As a result, any claims against us may result in liabilities that we will not be able to afford, resulting in the failure of our business.
Climate change, including the potential for extreme weather events and shifts in climate patterns, may have an adverse effect on our profitability and operations.
The physical effects of climate change, which may include extreme weather events, resource shortages, changes in rainfall and storm patterns, water shortages, changing sea levels and temperatures and higher temperatures may have an adverse effect on our production, operations, and profitability. Events or conditions such as flooding or inadequate water supplies could disrupt mining and transport operations or mineral processing and rehabilitation efforts, create resource shortages, damage our property (including creating adverse geotechnical & hydrological conditions) or equipment and/or could increase health and safety risks on mining sites. Such events or conditions could also have other adverse effects on our operations, our workforce and on the local communities surrounding our mines, including an increased risk of food insecurity, water scarcity, civil unrest and the prevalence of disease.
Our operations throughout the globe depend on consistent supplies of essential commodities and other essential inputs to operate efficiently. If the effects of climate change, including extreme weather events, cause prolonged disruptions to the delivery of essential commodities and other essential inputs, or affect the prices or availability thereof, our production at our operations may be reduced, delayed or halted, and as a result the profitability of our business may be materially affected.
Our operations are energy intensive and use large amounts of diesel fuel and electric power. Currently, several governments or governmental bodies throughout the globe have introduced or are contemplating regulatory changes in response to the potential impacts of climate change in an effort to curb GHG emissions. The key sources for direct GHG emissions at our operations are from electricity production to operate our processing plants (from crushing and grinding to leaching, electrowinning and smelting) and the fuel for mobile equipment. Our Otjikoto operation consumes a combination of energy either purchased from the Namibian electrical grid or generated on site by our Otjikoto Solar Plant, with diesel powered back-up. Our Masbate and Fekola operations currently generate 100% of their electricity on site; Masbate via HFO and diesel power plants (and a small portion from solar panels) with diesel powered back-up and Fekola via a hybrid HFO/solar power plant with diesel back-up. The level of GHG emissions emitted by our operations fluctuates and varies from operation to operation. Furthermore, one-off projects or endeavours, such as the construction of a new mine, may result in an acute increase in GHG emissions above those generally emitted during our ongoing and regular operations. Additionally, ongoing international negotiations may result in the introduction of climate change regulations or frameworks on an international scale. These developments, and the costs associated with complying with such kind of measures, may have an adverse impact on our operations and the profitability of our business.
Our operations require water. While we believe it holds sufficient water rights to support its current operations, future developments could limit the amount of water available to us. New water development projects, or climatic conditions such as extended drought, could adversely affect our operations. There can be no guarantee that extreme weather events such as a prolonged drought will not affect the operations at these mines, or that we will be successful in maintaining adequate supplies of water for its operations. In addition, too much precipitation can pose a risk to our operations, such as at the Fekola Mine which in the past experienced abnormally high rainfall. Increased precipitation, either due to normal variances in weather or due to global climate change, could result in flooding that may adversely impact operations and could damage our facilities, plant and operating equipment.
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We are subject to risks related to community relations and community action, including Indigenous and local community title claims and rights to consultation and accommodation, which may affect our existing operations and development projects.
Maintaining a positive relationship with the communities in which we operate is critical to continuing successful exploration, development and operation of mines. Community support for operations is a key component of a successful exploration or development project. Various international and national laws, codes, resolutions, conventions, guidelines and other materials relating to corporate social responsibility (including rights with respect to health and safety and the environment) may also require government and or company consultation with communities on a variety of issues affecting local stakeholders, including the approval of mining rights or permits.
As a mining business, we come under pressure in the jurisdictions in which we operate, or will operate in the future, to demonstrate that other stakeholders (including employees, communities, Indigenous Peoples, surrounding operations and the countries in which we operate) benefit and will continue to benefit from our commercial activities, and/or that we operate in a manner that will minimize any potential damage or disruption to the interests of those stakeholders. We may face opposition with respect to our current and future development, exploration and mining projects which could materially adversely affect our business, operations, and financial condition.
Governments in many jurisdictions must consult with Indigenous Peoples and local communities with respect to grants of mineral rights and the issuance or amendment of project authorizations. Consultation and other rights of Indigenous People and local communities frequently require accommodations, including undertakings employment, revenue sharing, procurement, other financial payments and other matters. This may affect our ability to acquire within a reasonable time frame effective mineral titles, permits or licences in these jurisdictions, including in some parts of Canada, in which title or other rights maybe claimed by Indigenous Peoples, and may affect the timetable and costs of development and operation of mineral properties in these jurisdictions. In addition, the risk of unforeseen title claims by Indigenous Peoples could affect existing operations as well as development projects. These claims may also affect our ability to expand or transfer existing operations or to develop new projects.
In connection with the Goose Project, we are party to the IIBA, which requires us to comply with predetermined obligations and requirements. There is the risk that we may not fulfill all of our obligations under the IIBA which could cause us to lose the support of the affected Indigenous communities and otherwise impact our reputation, business and operations. While we continue to actively engage with the Indigenous communities around us in Nunavut and work with them on CDPs, there can be no assurance that these relations will remain amicable.
Further, certain NGOs, some of which oppose globalization and/or resource development, are often vocal critics of the mining industry and its practices, including the use of hazardous substances in processing activities. Adverse publicity generated by such NGOs or others related to extractive industries generally, or our operations specifically, could have an adverse effect on our reputation and financial condition and may impact our relationship with the communities in which we operate. They may also attempt to disrupt our operations.
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There is an increasing level of public concern relating to the perceived effect of mining activities on Indigenous communities. The evolving expectations related to human rights, Indigenous rights and environmental protection may result in opposition to our current or future activities. Such opposition may be directed through legal or administrative proceedings, against the government and/or the Company, or expressed in manifestations such as protests, delayed or protracted consultations, blockades or other forms of public expression against our activities or against the government's position. We can provide no assurance that these relationships can be successfully managed and that our operations will not be disrupted or adversely affected.
Local stakeholders and other groups may oppose our current and future exploration, development and operational activities through legal or administrative proceedings, protests, roadblocks or other forms of public expression against our activities. Opposition by such groups may have a negative impact on our reputation and our ability to receive necessary mining rights or permits. Opposition may also require us to modify our exploration, development or operational plans or enter into agreements with local stakeholders or governments with respect to our projects, in some cases causing considerable project delays. Any of these outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and common share price.
We may encounter conflicts with small scale miners in certain countries which could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Certain of our development and mining properties, including the Masbate Gold Project, the Gramalote Project and certain of our properties in Mali, are subject to significant ASM activity. The number of artisanal miners has increased as the price of gold has increased. There is a risk of conflict with the artisanal miners, which could materially adversely affect our operations. Further development of our mining activities may require the relocation and physical resettlement of artisanal miners and development plans may be impacted as a result. Any delays as a result of potential relocation or resettlement could negatively impact us and may result in additional expenses or prevent further development.
ASM may use (among others) sodium cyanide or mercury which are toxic materials. Should an artisanal miner's sodium cyanide or mercury leak or otherwise be discharged into our mineral properties, we may become subject to liability for clean-up work that may not be insured. Related clean-up work may have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Small scale miners have been operating in Aroroy, Masbate Province since 1979 without obtaining valid mining or processing permits issued by the government. Some of these mining and processing operations are within the property of Filminera, and there has been evidence of contamination from tailing and effluent discharges within the Masbate property boundary. Although Filminera is not legally liable for their contamination, Filminera has attempted to limit the activities of these miners and inform the public about the risk of contamination. There is also a natural conflict in objectives between small scale miners and Filminera, as the small-scale miners have no legal rights to mine and are keen to access as much ore as possible. In contrast, Filminera has a stated position of allowing some level of ASM activity as a source of livelihood and mitigation of adverse environmental impacts; however, Filminera requires it to be contained to nominated areas only and subject to the law governing small scale mining in the country. Accordingly, there are risks that conflict can arise that could materially adversely affect the operations of Filminera.
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ASM in Mali is a secular activity which cover both seasonal and permanent sites. ASM workers' numbers fluctuate depending on factors such as geology, weather conditions, and cultural holidays as well as gold spot price. ASM workers on sites come from both the local region as well as neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso, Guinea, or Senegal. Additionally, there are foreign state sponsored **** ASM activities in Mali, operating under the support of vast network of local stakeholders. They are using sophisticated heavy machinery to mine on a much larger scale, causing major environmental damage and adversely affecting local communities' livelihood.
In March 2024, we implemented a "No-Go Zone" on the Bantako Nord Permit. Following discussions with ASM leaders as well as the village council, and the provision of alternative sources of revenue (donation of a tractor, supply of fertilizers, cattle fattening project and the construction of two water towers for impacted communities), our team peacefully engaged with the ASM workers, and they agreed to move away from the mine priority area within the "No-Go Zone".
Previously, in February 2020, we had established a "No-Go Zone" on the Menankoto Permit and expanded it in 2023 to cover a portion of the Bakolobi Permit, to support future mining activities in the Anaconda Area. We will establish additional "No-Go Zones" as part of the land acquisition process associated with mining expansion within the Fekola Complex.
We are subject to various anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws and regulations and carry on business in jurisdictions which may be subject to sanctions or other similar kinds of measures. Our failure to comply with such laws, regulations, sanctions and measures may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business is subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the "FCPA") and the Corrupt Foreign Public Officials Act (Canada) (the "CFPOA"), which generally prohibit companies and company employees from engaging in bribery or other prohibited payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. The FCPA also requires companies to maintain accurate books and records and internal controls, including at foreign-controlled subsidiaries. Since we presently hold interests located in Mali, Colombia, the Philippines and Namibia, there is a risk of FCPA or CFPOA violations. In addition, we are subject to the anti-bribery laws of located in Mali, Colombia, the Philippines and Namibia and of any other countries in which we conduct business in the future. If our employees or other agents are found to have engaged in prohibited conduct under our policies and procedures and the FCPA, the CFPOA or other anti-bribery laws for which we may be held responsible, we could suffer severe penalties and other consequences that may have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations. Our Anti-Corruption Policy and other corporate policies mandate compliance with these anti-bribery laws; however, there can be no assurance that our internal control policies and procedures will always protect it from fraudulent behaviour or dishonesty and other inappropriate acts committed by our employees and agents. As such, our corporate policies and processes are limited in their ability to prevent all potential breaches of law or other governance practices.
We cannot predict the nature, scope or effect of future regulatory requirements to which our operations might be subject, or the way existing laws might be administered or interpreted. Failure by us, our predecessors or other persons or entities with whom we do business to comply with the applicable legislation and other similar foreign laws could expose us and our senior management to civil and/or criminal penalties, other sanctions and remedial measures, and legal expenses and reputational damage, all of which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Likewise, any investigation of any alleged violations of the applicable anti-corruption legislation by Canadian or foreign authorities could also have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Certain jurisdictions in which we carry on business, or certain nationals of those jurisdictions, are or may become subject to sanctions or other similar measures imposed by individual countries, such as Canada, the United States or the European Union or through United Nations sanctions that Canada implements. In addition, there is the risk that individuals or entities with which we currently engage or do business with could be designated or identified under such sanctions or measures. Our failure to comply with such sanctions or measures, whether inadvertent or otherwise, could expose us and our senior management to civil and/or criminal penalties, becoming implicated or designated under such sanctions, becoming subject to additional remedial processes (including limitations on our ability to carry on our business or operations in a given jurisdiction), legal expenses, or reputational damage, all of which could materially and adversely affect our business, operations and financial condition, at both our specific operations and our Company as a whole. We are strongly committed to fully complying with all sanctions and other similar measures that affect our business and the jurisdictions in which we operate. Additional or expanded sanctions may have other impacts on us and our operations.
As at the date of this AIF, the European Union, the United States and Canada have each imposed sanctions against Mali. Certain of these sanctions target individuals and groups, including Mali's transition authorities and other transition institutions. As these situations remain in flux, there is the risk that individuals or entities with which we currently engage or do business could be designated under these sanctions or become subject to other similar measures, or that critical supply routes may be disrupted. Such developments could have a material adverse impact on our Malian operations and our Company as a whole. In June 2023, the United States issued a new advisory focused on the gold sector across sub-Saharan Africa. The advisory highlights risks related to the gold trade, including conflict and terror financing, money laundering activities, sanctions evasion, human rights and labor rights abuses, and environmental degradation. In July 2023, the United States sanctioned three Malian transition government and military officials for facilitating the deployment and expansion of the activities of Africa Corps and/or Wagner Group in Mali.
Our operations would be adversely affected if we fail to maintain satisfactory labour relations.
Production at our mining operations is dependent upon the efforts of our employees and our relations with our unionized and non-unionized employees. Some of our employees are represented by labour unions under various collective labour agreements. We may not be able to satisfactorily renegotiate our collective labour agreements, including in Namibia or Mali, and may face tougher negotiations or higher wage demands than would be the case for non-unionized labour, which could negatively impact our operations and profitability. Negotiations are ongoing with respect to a collective bargaining agreement covering the workers at the Fekola Mine. As part of the ongoing negotiations management is requesting a three-year no-strike commitment from the union, however, there is no guarantee that the union will agree to this request or honor any such commitment. In addition, existing labour agreements may not prevent a strike or work stoppage at our facilities in the future. Relations between us and our employees may also be affected by changes in the scheme of labour relations that may be introduced by the relevant governmental authorities in those jurisdictions in which we carry on business. Changes in such legislation or in the relationship between us and our employees may have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.
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In Namibia, due to high levels of unemployment and restrictive immigration policies applied by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, it may be difficult for us to obtain employment permits for skilled personnel that may be required in exploration or mining operations. In addition, Namibia suffers from high levels of poverty. Although the Namibian government spends a significant proportion of its budget on education, education initiatives and programs may take time to take effect. Currently, a significant portion of the Namibian workforce can be classified as unskilled or semi-skilled labourers, which make it difficult for employers to find skilled personnel for specialized tasks. Shortages of suitably qualified personnel in Namibia could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our insurance does not cover all potential losses, liabilities and damages related to our business and certain risks are uninsured or uninsurable.
Although we maintain insurance to protect against certain risks, including information security and cybersecurity risks, in such amounts as we consider to be reasonable, our insurance will not cover all the potential risks associated with our operations and insurance coverage may not continue to be available or may not be adequate to cover any resulting liability. It is not always possible to obtain insurance against all risks and we may decide not to insure against certain risks because of high premiums or other reasons. Moreover, insurance against risks such as loss of title to mineral property, environmental pollution or other hazards as a result of exploration and production is not generally available to us or to other companies in the mining industry on acceptable terms. Losses from these events may cause us to incur significant costs that could have a material adverse effect upon our financial performance and results of operations.
We may not be able to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms, or at all.
Future exploration, development, mining, and processing of minerals from our properties, or repayment of current or future indebtedness, could require substantial additional financing. No assurances can be given that we will be able to raise the additional funding that may be required for such activities, or repayment of indebtedness, should such funding not be fully generated from operations. To meet such funding requirements, we may be required to undertake additional equity financing, which would be dilutive to shareholders. There is no assurance that such equity or debt financing will be available to us or that they would be obtained on terms favourable to us, if at all, which may adversely affect our business and financial position. Failure to obtain sufficient financing may result in delaying or indefinite postponement of exploration, development, or production on any or all of our properties, or even a loss of property interests.
We are subject to a variety of risks associated with partial ownership or jointly-held projects, which could result in a material adverse effect on our future growth, results of operations and financial position.
A number of the properties in which we have an interest are not wholly owned by us or are the subject of arrangements with governments or other mining companies and will be subject to the risks normally associated with the conduct of jointly-held projects. The existence or occurrence of one or more of the following circumstances and events could have a material adverse effect on the viability of our interests held in jointly-held projects, which could have a material adverse effect on our future growth, results of operations and financial conditions:
- a jointly-held project participant having economic or business interests or goals that are, or become, inconsistent with our business interests or goals;
- bankruptcy of the jointly-held project participant;
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- disagreement with participants on how and when to develop and operate mines efficiently;
- inability of participants to meet their obligations to the jointly-held project or third parties; and
- litigation between participants regarding project matters.
Our investments in the Masbate Gold Project may be adversely affected by our lack of sole decision-making authority and disputes between us and the majority owner of Filminera.
We, through our subsidiaries, are a minority shareholder in Filminera, which owns the Masbate Gold Project. Zoom Minerals Holding Inc. ("Zoom") is the majority shareholder. As the minority shareholder, we are not able to exercise sole decision-making authority regarding the Masbate Gold Project. We may be unable to cause Filminera to take, or refrain from taking, actions consistent with our business strategies and objectives. Any change in the identity, management, ownership or strategic direction of Zoom, or any disagreement with Zoom or its owners, could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations. If a dispute arises between us and Zoom or its owners that cannot be resolved amicably, we may be unable to further our business strategies and objectives, may not realize the anticipated benefits of our investment in the Masbate Gold Project and associated processing facilities (in which we hold a 100% interest), and may be involved in lengthy and costly proceedings to resolve the dispute, which could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
In addition, pursuant to the ore purchase agreement between PGPRC and Filminera, PGPRC has agreed to purchase all ore from the Masbate Gold Project at a price equal to the production cost for the ore plus a predetermined percentage. Decreases in the market price of gold, increases in production costs at the Masbate Gold Project or a combination of both may make performance by PGPRC under the agreement not economically desirable or feasible. In such a circumstance, we would seek to curtail production at the Masbate Gold Project or negotiate another mutually agreeable resolution with the Philippine shareholder of Filminera; however, we may not be successful in such efforts. Our interest in the Pajo concession, owned by Filminera, is on a similar basis and is subject to similar risks.
Market fluctuations could adversely affect the market price of our equity interest in a number of companies and the value we could realize on such investments.
Our equity interest in several publicly traded companies is subject to volatility in the market price of their respective shares. We cannot provide any assurance that an active trading market for any of such shares is sustainable. The trading prices of the shares could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors beyond our control, including quarterly variations in results of operations, exploration results, changes in earnings (if any), estimates by analysts, conditions in the industry of such companies and macroeconomic developments in North America and globally, currency fluctuations and market perceptions of the attractiveness of particular industries. The lack of a liquid market could adversely affect the value that we could ultimately realize on our ownership interests.
We may be unable to identify appropriate acquisition targets or complete desirable acquisitions, and we may be unsuccessful in integrating businesses and assets that we have acquired or may acquire in the future.
As part of our business strategy, we have sought and will continue to seek new operating and development opportunities in the mining industry. In pursuit of such opportunities, we may fail to select appropriate acquisition candidates or negotiate acceptable arrangements, including arrangements to finance acquisitions, or integrate the acquired businesses and their personnel into our operations. There can be no assurance that we can complete any acquisition or business arrangement that we pursue, or are pursuing, on favorable terms, if at all, or that any acquisitions or business arrangements completed will ultimately benefit our business.
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Acquisitions are accompanied by risks, such as: a significant decline in the relevant metal price after we commit to completing an acquisition on certain terms; mining operations not meeting production or cost estimates; the quality of the mineral deposit acquired proving to be lower than expected; the difficulty of assimilating the operations and personnel of any acquired companies; the potential disruption of our ongoing business; the inability of management to realize anticipated synergies and maximize our financial and strategic position; the failure to maintain uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies; the impairment of relationships with employees, customers and contractors as a result of any integration of new management personnel; and the potential for unknown or unanticipated liabilities associated with acquired assets and businesses, including tax, environmental or other liabilities. There can be no assurance that acquired businesses or assets will be profitable, that we will be able to integrate the acquired businesses or assets successfully or that we will identify all potential liabilities during due diligence. Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, expansion, results of operations and financial condition.
We may be unable to compete successfully with other mining companies.
The mining industry is intensely competitive in all of its phases, and we compete with senior companies that may possess greater financial resources and technical facilities in certain circumstances, including with respect to the discovery and acquisition of interests in mineral properties, and the recruitment and retention of qualified employees and other persons to carry out our mineral production and exploration activities. Competition in the mining industry could adversely affect our prospects for mineral exploration and development in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, operations and financial condition.
We are subject to litigation risks which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.
All industries, including the mining industry, are subject to legal claims, with and without merit. We are, from time to time, involved in various claims, legal proceedings and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. In addition, companies like ours that have experienced volatility in their share price have been subjected to class action securities litigation by shareholders. Defense and settlement costs can be substantial, even for claims that are without merit. Due to the inherent uncertainty of the litigation process, the resolution of any particular legal proceeding to which we may become subject could take away from the time and effort management would otherwise devote to our business, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.
Furthermore, in the event of a dispute arising from our activities, we may be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts or arbitral proceedings outside of North America or may not be successful in subjecting persons to the jurisdiction of courts in North America, either of which could unexpectedly and adversely affect the outcome of a dispute.
We depend on key personnel and if we are unable to attract and retain such persons in the future it could have an adverse effect on our operations.
Our success will be largely dependent upon the performance of our key officers, employees, outside contractors and consultants. Locating and developing mineral deposits depends on a number of factors, including the technical skill of the exploration, development and production personnel involved. Failure to retain key personnel or to attract or retain additional key individuals with necessary skills could have a materially adverse impact upon our success. We have not purchased any "key-person" insurance with respect to any of our directors, officers or key employees and have no current plans to do so.
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Failure of information systems or a component of information systems could, depending on the nature of any such failure, adversely impact our reputation and results of operations.
Our operations, and those of our third-party service providers and vendors, depend in part on the proper functioning and availability of IT systems, networks, equipment, and software, and the security of those systems. These systems are vulnerable to an increasing threat of continually evolving cybersecurity risks. These risks may take the form of malware, viruses, cyber threats, extortion, employee error, malfeasance, system errors or other types of risks, and may occur from inside or outside of our organization. Cybersecurity risk is increasingly difficult to identify and quantify and cannot be fully mitigated because of the rapid evolving nature of the threats, targets and consequences. Additionally, unauthorized parties may attempt to gain access to these systems or our information through fraud or other means of deceiving our third-party service providers, employees or vendors. A significant breach of, disruption or damage to, or failure to maintain, upgrade or replace our IT systems and software could result in IT system failures, delays, the corruption and destruction of our data, misuse of data, extensive personal injury, property damage, loss of confidential information and significant cost increases. The failure of information systems or a component of information systems could, depending on the nature and extent of any such failure, adversely impact our reputation and results of operations. There can be no assurance that our ability to monitor for or mitigate cybersecurity risks will be fully effective, and we may fail to identify cybersecurity breaches or discover them in a timely way. A cyber security incident resulting in a security breach or a failure to identify a security threat could disrupt business and could result in the loss of business sensitive, confidential or personal information or other assets, as well as litigation, regulatory enforcement, violation of privacy or securities laws and regulations, and remediation costs, which could materially impact the Company's business or reputation.
Although to date we have not experienced any known material losses or interruptions to our day-to-day operations and have not experienced any known security breach in the past five years, there can be no assurance that we will not experience any such breach, loss or interruption in the future. Our business relies heavily on its IT systems, including networks, equipment, hardware, software, and telecommunications systems, as well as the IT systems of third-party service providers and vendors.
As the regulatory environment related to information security, data collection and use, and privacy becomes increasingly rigorous, with new and constantly changing requirements applicable to our business, compliance with those requirements could also result in additional costs. As cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend additional resources to continue to modify or enhance protective measures or to investigate and remediate any security vulnerabilities. In addition, violations of privacy related regulations can result in significant penalties and reputational harm, which in turn could adversely impact our business and results of operations.
Our reputation may be negatively affected by social media and other web-based applications, which are beyond our control.
As a result of the increased usage and the speed and the global reach of social media and other web-based applications used to generate, publish and discuss user-generated content and to connect with others, we are at a much greater risk of losing control over how we are perceived by the public. Damage to our reputation can be the result of the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, and could include any negative publicity, whether credible, factual, true or not. While we place a great emphasis on protecting and nurturing our strong reputation, we do not ultimately have direct control over how we are perceived by others, including how we are viewed on social media and other web-based applications. Harm to our reputation, which could be promulgated through social media and other web-based applications, may lead to increased challenges in developing and maintaining investor confidence and stakeholder relations, and could act as an obstacle to our overall ability to maintain our current operations, to advance our projects, and to procure capital from investors, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our business.
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The market price of our common shares may be adversely affected by various factors.
Our common shares are publicly traded and are subject to various factors that have historically made our common share price volatile. The market price of our common shares has experienced, and may continue to experience, significant volatility, which may result in losses to investors. The market price of our common shares may increase or decrease in response to a number of events and factors, including as a result of the risk factors described in this AIF or documents incorporated by reference herein.
In addition, the global stock markets and prices for mining company shares have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. These market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common shares, regardless of our operating performance.
We may fail to maintain the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act**.**
Our common shares are registered under the Exchange Act and listed on the NYSE American and, accordingly, we are subject to the reporting and other requirements of the United States federal securities laws that apply to foreign private issuers, including the requirement to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act ("SOX"). SOX requires management to perform an annual assessment of our internal control over financial reporting, and for our external auditors to conduct an independent assessment of their effectiveness.
Our internal control over financial reporting may not be adequate, or we may not be able to maintain it as required by SOX. We also may not be able to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting on an ongoing basis, if standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time.
If we do not satisfy the SOX requirements on an ongoing and timely basis, investors could lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, and this could harm our business and have a negative effect on the trading price of our common shares or the market value of our other securities.
We are subject to global geopolitical risks.
In addition to the risks specific to the countries in which we operate, global events such as war and occupation, terrorism, international trade disputes, and related geopolitical risks may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse short-term and long-term effects on world economies and markets generally. For example, in response to the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, countries in which we operate have implemented economic sanctions against Russia and/or certain Russian individuals or organizations, and may impose further sanctions or other restrictive actions against governmental or other individuals or organizations in Russia or elsewhere. The effects of disruptive events, including the Israel-Hamas war, could affect the global economy and financial and commodities markets in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. These events could also exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks, including those described elsewhere in this AIF.
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We may record impairment charges or reversals which will adversely affect financial results.
At the end of each reporting period, we assess mineral properties and equipment for impairment indicators and if there are such indicators, then we perform a test of impairment. For the purpose of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are separately identifiable cash inflows or cash generating units ("CGUs"). These are typically individual mines or development projects. Brownfields exploration projects, located close to existing mine infrastructure, are assessed for impairment as part of the associated mine cash generating unit. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the asset's carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.
Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset or cash-generating unit is increased to the revised estimate of recoverable amount but not beyond the carrying amount, net of depreciation and amortization, that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset or cash generating unit in prior years.
The recoverable amounts, or fair values, of our CGUs are based, in part, on certain factors that may be partially or totally outside of our control. Impairment estimates are based on management's assumptions and sensitivity analyses and future outcomes may differ from these estimates.
The ability to pay dividends will be dependent on our financial condition.
Payment of dividends on our common shares is within the sole and absolute discretion of our Board, taking into account, among other things, economic conditions, business performance, financial condition, growth plans, expected capital requirements, compliance with our constating documents, all applicable laws, including the rules and policies of any applicable stock exchange, as well as any contractual restrictions on such dividends, including any agreements entered into with our lenders, and any other factors that our Board deems appropriate at the relevant time. Although our current practice is to pay a quarterly dividend, there can be no assurance that we will be in a position to declare any future dividends or the amount of any future dividends, including due to the occurrence of one or more of the risks described in this AIF or in documents incorporated by reference herein.
We rely on local counsel and advisors and the experience of our management and Board in foreign jurisdictions.
Outside of Canada, our exploration property interests or material mining interests are located in Mali, Colombia, the Philippines and Namibia. The legal and regulatory requirements in certain of these countries with respect to mineral exploration and mining activities, as well as local business customs and practices, are different from those in Canada. Our officers and directors must rely, to a great extent, on our local legal counsel and local consultants retained by us in order to keep abreast of material legal, regulatory and governmental developments as they pertain to and affect our business operations, and to assist us with our governmental relations. We must rely, to some extent, on those members of management and the Board who have previous experience working and conducting business in these countries in order to enhance its understanding of and appreciation for the local business customs and practices. We also rely on the advice of local experts and professionals in connection with current and new regulations that develop in respect of banking, financing, labour, litigation and tax matters in these countries. There can be no guarantee that reliance on such local counsel and advisors and our management and the Board will result in compliance at all times with such legal and regulatory requirements and business customs and practices. Any such violations could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We are required to comply with continuing listing standards for our common shares to remain publicly listed on stock exchanges.
We must meet continuing listing standards to maintain the listing of the common shares on the TSX and the NYSE American, including minimum trading price of such common shares. If we fail to comply with listing standards and the TSX or NYSE American delists the common shares, we and our shareholders could face significant material adverse consequences, including: a limited availability of market quotations for the common shares; reduced liquidity for the common shares; a determination that the common shares are "penny stock," which would require brokers trading in the common shares to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for the common shares; a limited amount of news about us and analyst coverage; and a decreased ability for us to issue additional equity securities or obtain additional equity or debt financing in the future.
We are subject to increased costs as a result of being a public company in both Canada and the United States, and management is required to devote substantial time to public company compliance efforts.
Our business is subject to evolving corporate governance and public disclosure regulations that have increased both our compliance costs and the risk of non-compliance, which could adversely impact the market value of our common shares or other securities.
We are subject to changing rules and regulations promulgated by a number of governmental and self-regulated organizations, including Canadian and United States securities administrators and regulators, the TSX, the NYSE American and the IASB. These rules and regulations continue to evolve in scope and complexity creating many new requirements. Our efforts to comply with such legislation could result in increased general and administration expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities.
Our use of derivative contracts to protect against market volatility exposes us to risk of opportunity loss and mark to market fair value adjustments.
The profitability of our operations depends, in large part, upon gold and other commodity prices. Gold and other commodity prices can fluctuate widely and can be influenced by many factors beyond its control, including but not limited to: industrial demand; political and economic events (global and regional); gold and financial market volatility and other market factors, the popularity of cryptocurrencies as an alternative investment to gold, and central bank purchases and sales of gold and gold lending. The global supply of gold is made up of new production from mining, and existing stocks of bullion, scrap and fabricated gold held by governments, public and private financial institutions, industrial organizations and private individuals.
From time to time, we may enter into price risk management contracts to protect against fluctuations in the prices of gold, and changes in the prices of fuel and other input costs. These contracts could include forward sales or purchase contracts, futures contracts, purchased or sold put and call options and other derivative instruments.
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There is no assurance that any hedging program or transactions which may be adopted or utilized by us designed to reduce the risk associated with changes in the prices of precious metals, lead, zinc or commodities will be successful.
On December 23, 2024, pursuant to the terms of our Revolving Credit Facility, we completed a gold hedging program structured to achieve a minimum cumulative financial settlement of $220 million relative to an assumed refined gold market price of $1,750/oz and 20% of our forecasted production volumes for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 per the most recent LoM plan consolidated projected gold production and shall maintain such gold hedging program (allowing however for the wind down of the program in the ordinary course) until the earlier of (i) the date such hedging program has achieved a minimum cumulative financial settlement of $220 million and (ii) December 31, 2026. Although hedging may protect us from an adverse price change, certain hedging strategies may also prevent us from benefiting fully from a positive price change.
The use of derivative instruments can expose us to risk of opportunity loss and may also result in significant mark-to-market fair value adjustments, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
DIVIDENDS
On November 5, 2019, the Company declared its inaugural quarterly dividend of $0.01 per Common Share, and in 2020, over the course of the year, the quarterly dividend payable increased from $0.01 to $0.04 per Common Share. From 2021 to 2024, the Board declared and paid a quarterly dividend to its shareholders of record in the amount of $0.04 per common share (or $0.16 per share on an annualized basis).
On January 13, 2025, the Company announced that it would be reducing its quarterly dividend to $0.02 per Common Share (or $0.08 per Common Share on an annualized basis). On February 19, 2025, B2Gold's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend for the first quarter of 2025, which was paid on March 20, 2025.
On August 28, 2023, we announced the implementation of the DRIP. The DRIP provides our shareholders residing in Canada and the United States (or in certain other eligible jurisdictions) with the opportunity to have the cash dividends declared on all or some of their Common Shares automatically reinvested into additional Common Shares on an ongoing basis. Participation in the DRIP is optional and does not affect shareholders' cash dividends unless they elect to participate in the DRIP. A Form F-3D registration statement was filed with the SEC and became effective upon filing on September 1, 2023.
Our current practice is to pay a quarterly dividend on our Common Shares. The Board expects to declare future dividends quarterly at the same level, in the amount of $0.02 per Common Share (which on an annualized basis would amount to $0.08 per Common Share), and has determined that this anticipated level of quarterly dividend is appropriate based on our current financial performance, liquidity and outlook. Subject to authorization by the Board and compliance with all applicable laws, the record date for future dividends is anticipated to be set in March, June, September and December in each year and the payment date in each case is anticipated to be approximately two weeks from such record date. The exact record date and other details of future dividends, if any, will be announced by us separately at such time any dividend is declared and authorized by the Board.
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THE DECLARATION AND PAYMENT OF FUTURE DIVIDENDS AND THE AMOUNT OF ANY SUCH DIVIDENDS WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE DETERMINATION OF THE BOARD, IN ITS SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, BUSINESS PERFORMANCE, FINANCIAL CONDITION, GROWTH PLANS, EXPECTED CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPLIANCE WITH OUR CONSTATING DOCUMENTS, ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, INCLUDING THE RULES AND POLICIES OF ANY APPLICABLE STOCK EXCHANGE, AS WELL AS ANY CONTRACTUAL RESTRICTIONS ON SUCH DIVIDENDS, INCLUDING ANY AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO WITH OUR LENDERS, AND ANY OTHER FACTORS THAT THE BOARD DEEMS APPROPRIATE AT THE RELEVANT TIME. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT ANY DIVIDENDS WILL BE PAID AT THE INTENDED RATE OR AT ALL IN THE FUTURE.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE
Our authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of Common Shares and an unlimited number of preferred shares. As at March 25, 2025, 1,319,720,811 Common Shares and no preferred shares are issued and outstanding.
On January 13, 2025, we announced our intention to implement a normal course issuer bid (NCIB) to purchase up to 5% of our outstanding common shares on the open market through the facilities of the TSX, the NYSE American, other designated exchanges and/or alternative Canadian and U.S. trading systems or by such other means as may be permitted by applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws, subject to and following receipt of approval by the TSX.
Common Shares
Registered holders of Common Shares are entitled to receive notice of and attend all shareholder meetings of shareholders and to one vote for each Common Share held. In addition, holders of Common Shares are entitled to receive on a pro rata basis dividends if, as and when declared by the Board and, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, are entitled to receive on a pro rata basis our net assets after payment of debts and other liabilities, in each case subject to the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to any other series or class of shares, including preferred shares, ranking in priority to, or equal with, the holders of the Common Shares. Any alteration of the rights attached to Common Shares must be approved by at least two-thirds of the Common Shares voted at a meeting of our shareholders.
Preferred Shares
Preferred shares without par value may at any time and from time to time be issued in one or more series. The Board may from time to time by resolution determine the maximum number of preferred shares of any such series or determine there is no maximum, determine the designation of the preferred shares of that series and amend our articles to create, define and attach, and if permitted by the BCBCA, alter, vary or abrogate, any special rights and restrictions to be attached to the preferred shares of that series. Except as provided in the special rights and restrictions attaching to the preferred shares, the holders of preferred shares will not be entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote any meeting of our shareholders. Holders of preferred shares will be entitled to preference with respect to payment of dividends on such shares over the Common Shares, and over any other of our shares ranking junior to the preferred shares with respect to payment of dividends. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, holders of preferred shares will be entitled to preference with respect to distribution of our property or assets over the Common Shares and over any of our other shares ranking junior to the preferred shares with respect to the repayment of capital paid up on, and the payment of any or all accrued and unpaid cumulative dividends whether or not earned or declared, or any or all declared and unpaid non-cumulative dividends, on the preferred shares.
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MARKET FOR SECURITIES
Trading Price and Volume
Our Common Shares are listed for trading on the TSX under the symbol “BTO”. The following table sets out the market price range and trading volumes of our Common Shares on the TSX for the periods indicated. On March 25, 2025, the closing price of our Common Shares on the TSX was C$4.51 per share.
| Year | **** | High<br>(C$) | Low<br>(C$) | Volume<br>(no. of shares) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **** | March 1 - 25 | 4.78 | 3.71 | 76,892,980 |
| **** | February | 4.17 | 3.47 | 73,643,535 |
| 2025 | January | 3.85 | 3.16 | 66,816,917 |
| **** | December | 4.01 | 3.45 | 49,530,144 |
| **** | November | 4.67 | 3.70 | 67,432,399 |
| **** | October | 4.84 | 4.07 | 68,379,194 |
| **** | September | 4.63 | 3.55 | 100,795,732 |
| **** | August | 4.19 | 3.23 | 62,227,064 |
| **** | July | 4.33 | 3.63 | 53,142,951 |
| **** | June | 3.87 | 3.45 | 57,209,456 |
| **** | May | 4.02 | 3.37 | 67,800,537 |
| **** | April | 4.22 | 3.41 | 105,247,529 |
| **** | March | 3.68 | 3.22 | 80,164,433 |
| **** | February | 3.81 | 3.18 | 62,295,853 |
| 2024 | January | 4.28 | 3.56 | 62,217,119 |
Source: TMX Money (https://money.tmx.com/en).
Our Common Shares are listed for trading on the NYSE American under the symbol “BTG”. The following table sets out the market price range and trading volumes of our Common Shares on the NYSE American for the periods indicated. On March 25, 2025, the closing price of our Common Shares on the NYSE American was US$3.17 per share.
| Year | **** | High<br>(US$) | Low<br>(US$) | Volume<br>(no. of shares) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **** | March 1 – 25 | 3.35 | 2.56 | 769,115,508 |
| **** | February | 2.94 | 2.38 | 709,971,067 |
| 2025 | January | 2.68 | 2.20 | 501,190,127 |
| **** | December | 2.85 | 2.40 | 302,091,019 |
| **** | November | 3.36 | 2.65 | 274,215,100 |
| **** | October | 3.50 | 2.97 | 311,503,053 |
| **** | September | 3.42 | 2.61 | 414,528,022 |
| **** | August | 3.04 | 2.35 | 269,505,177 |
| **** | July | 3.18 | 2.65 | 216,480,852 |
| **** | June | 2.84 | 2.51 | 231,191,590 |
| **** | May | 2.99 | 2.47 | 205,045,006 |
| **** | April | 3.07 | 2.49 | 356,448,556 |
| **** | March | 2.73 | 2.37 | 266,355,113 |
| **** | February | 2.85 | 2.34 | 164,249,480 |
| 2024 | January | 3.22 | 2.63 | 214,426,416 |
Source: TMX Money (https://money.tmx.com/en).
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth the name, province or state of residence, position held with us, the date of appointment of each of our current directors and executive officers and principal occupation within the immediately preceding five years as of the date of this AIF. Our directors hold office until the next annual general meeting of the shareholders or until their successors are duly elected or appointed.
| Name and Place of Residence | Current Position with B2Gold | Principal Occupation<br>During Past Five Years |
|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Dushnisky<br>Ontario, Canada | Chair and Director since June 23, 2023. | Director of several public companies; formerly Chief Executive Officer and Director of AngloGold Ashanti Limited; and formerly President and Director of Barrick Gold Corporation. |
| Clive Johnson<br>British Columbia Canada | Chief Executive Officer, President and Director since December 17, 2006. | See current position with B2Gold. |
| Greg Barnes<br>Ontario, Canada | Director since November 1, 2024. | Corporate Director and prior to November 2024, Managing Director, Head of Mining Equity Research for TD Securities. |
| Kevin Bullock<br>Ontario, Canada | Director since December 20, 2013. | President, CEO and Director of Signal Gold Inc, formerly Chief Executive Officer and Director of Mako Mining Corp., and Director of several public resource companies. |
| Liane Kelly<br>Ontario, Canada | Director since January 1, 2020. | Prior to joining the Board, Corporate Social Responsibility consultant to B2Gold; and Director of Amarog Minerals Ltd. |
| Jerry Korpan<br>London, England | Director since November 20, 2007. | Director of several public natural resource companies. |
| Thabile Makgala<br>Johannesburg,<br>South Africa | Director since June 23, 2023. | Vice President, HSESC Minerals, Rio Tinto, former mining executive with Impala Platinum Holdings Limited; and former Head of Technical Services with Gold Fields Limited. |
| Basie Maree<br>Dubai, UAE | Director since November 1, 2024. | Corporate Director and a founding member and Director of the International Cyanide Management Institute for the United National Environmental Program (UNEP). |
| Lisa Pankratz<br>British Columbia, Canada | Director since January 1, 2023. | Director of several organizations since 2001 including public and private companies and crown corporations. |
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| Name and Place of Residence | Current Position with B2Gold | Principal Occupation<br>During Past Five Years |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Robin Weisman<br>Virginia, USA | Director since October 23, 2017. | Prior to joining the Board, Director of various companies, including a public company, a non-profit, and independent member of a private equity firm. |
| Michael Cinnamond<br>British Columbia, Canada | Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer since April 1, 2014. | See current position with B2Gold. |
| William Lytle<br>British Columbia, Canada | Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since December 10, 2021. | See current position with B2Gold.<br><br> <br>Previously, Senior Vice President, Operations from February 5, 2016 to December 10,2021. |
| Randall Chatwin<br>British Columbia, Canada | Senior Vice President, Legal and Corporate Communications since March 15, 2022. | See current position with B2Gold.<br><br> <br>Previously, Vice President, Associate General Counsel from September 1, 2019 to March 15, 2022. |
| Victor King<br>British Columbia, Canada | Senior Vice President, Exploration since October 1, 2022. | See current position with B2Gold.<br><br> <br>Previously, Vice President, Exploration from July 1, 2020 to October 1, 2022. |
| Dennis Stansbury<br>Nevada, USA | Senior Vice President, Engineering and Project Evaluations since March 14, 2014. | See current position with B2Gold. |
The Board has established four committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and the Sustainability Committee. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter, which prescribes the duties and obligations of the Audit Committee, is attached as Schedule A to this AIF. The composition of the Company's committees as at the date of this AIF is set out in the following table:
| Board Committee | Members | Independence Status |
|---|---|---|
| Audit Committee | Lisa Pankratz, Chair<br>Jerry Korpan<br>Kevin Bullock<br>Robin Weisman<br>Greg Barnes | Independent <br>Independent <br>Independent <br>Independent <br>Independent |
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| Compensation Committee | Kelvin Dushnisky, Chair<br>Liane Kelly<br>Greg Barnes | Independent <br>Independent <br>Independent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee | Robin Weisman, Chair<br>Lisa Pankratz<br>Kelvin Dushnisky | Independent <br>Independent <br>Independent |
| Sustainability Committee | Liane Kelly, Chair<br>Basie Maree<br>Thabile Makgala<br>Kevin Bullock | Independent <br>Independent <br>Independent <br>Independent |
Shareholdings of Directors and Executive Officers
As at March 25, 2025, our directors and executive officers, as a group, beneficially owned, or controlled or directed, directly or indirectly, 11,015,805 Common Shares, representing approximately 0.83% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.
Cease Trade Orders, Bankruptcies, Penalties or Sanctions
None of our directors or executive officers is, as at the date of this AIF, or was within 10 years before the date of this AIF, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company (including B2Gold) that: (a) was subject to an order that was issued while the director or executive officer was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; or (b) was subject to an order that was issued after the director or executive officer ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer.
For the purposes of subsections (a) and (b), "order" means a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, and in each case that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.
None of our directors or executive officers, or a shareholder holding a sufficient number of our securities to affect materially the control of B2Gold: (a) is, as at the date of this AIF, or has been within the 10 years before the date of this AIF, a director or executive officer of any company (including B2Gold) that, while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or (b) has, within the 10 years before the date of this AIF, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the director, executive officer or shareholder.
None of our directors or executive officers, or a shareholder holding a sufficient number of our securities to affect materially the control of B2Gold, has been subject to: (a) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or (b) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable investor in making an investment decision regarding B2Gold.
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The foregoing information, not being within our knowledge, has been furnished by the respective directors, officers and/or shareholders holding a sufficient number of our securities to affect materially control of B2Gold.
Conflicts of Interest
Our directors and officers may serve as directors or officers of other companies or have significant shareholdings in other resource companies and, to the extent that such other companies may participate in ventures in which we may participate, our directors may have a conflict of interest in negotiating and concluding terms respecting the extent of such participation. If such conflict of interest arises at a meeting of the Board, a director who has such a conflict will abstain from voting for or against the approval of such participation or such terms. From time to time several companies may participate in the acquisition, exploration and development of natural resource properties thereby allowing for the participation in larger programs, permitting involvement in a greater number of programs and reducing financial exposure in respect of any one program. It may also occur that a particular company will assign all or a portion of its interest in a particular program to another of these companies due to the financial position of the company making the assignment. In accordance with the BCBCA, our directors are required to act honestly, in good faith and in our best interests. In determining whether or not we will participate in a particular program and the interest therein to be acquired by it, the directors will primarily consider the degree of risk to which we may be exposed and our financial position at that time.
Our directors and officers are aware of the existence of laws governing the accountability of directors and officers for corporate opportunity and requiring disclosures by the directors of conflicts of interest, and we will rely upon such laws in respect of any directors' and officers' conflicts of interest or in respect of any breaches of duty by any of our directors and officers. All such conflicts will be disclosed by such directors or officers in accordance with our code of business conduct and ethics, which is applicable to all directors, officers, employees and contractors (a copy of the code can be obtained from our website at www.b2gold.com) and the BCBCA, and they will govern themselves in respect thereof to the best of their ability in accordance with the obligations imposed upon them by our code of ethics and applicable laws. Our directors and officers are not aware of any such conflicts of interests.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
We have established an Audit Committee, comprised of five independent directors, which operates under a charter approved by the Board. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is set out in full in Schedule A to this AIF. It is the Board's responsibility to ensure that we have an effective internal control framework. The Audit Committee's primary function is to assist the Board to meet our oversight responsibilities in relation to our financial reporting and external audit function, internal control structure and risk management procedures. In doing so, it will be the responsibility of the Audit Committee to maintain free and open communication between the Audit Committee, the external auditors and our management.
The Audit Committee reviews the effectiveness of our financial reporting and internal control policies and our procedures for the identification, assessment, reporting and management of risks. The Audit Committee oversees and appraises the quality of the external audit and internal control procedures, including financial reporting and practices, business ethics, policies and practices, accounting policies, and management and internal controls.
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Composition of the Audit Committee
Our Audit Committee is currently comprised of Lisa Pankratz (Chair), Jerry Korpan, Kevin Bullock, Robin Weisman and Greg Barnes. All members of the Audit Committee are: (i) independent within the meaning of National Instrument 52-110 - Audit Committees ("NI 52-110"), which provides that a member shall not have a direct or indirect material relationship with us which could, in the view of the Board, reasonably interfere with the exercise of a member's independent judgment; (ii) independent within the meaning of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and the applicable rules of the NYSE American; and (iii) considered to be financially literate under NI 52-110 and the applicable rules of the NYSE American. The Board has determined that Ms. Pankratz qualifies as an "audit committee financial expert" within the meaning of the applicable United States securities laws.
The education and experience of each Audit Committee member that is relevant to the performance of his responsibilities as a member of the Audit Committee are as follows:
Lisa Pankratz
Ms. Pankratz is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (FCPA, FCA). She received an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University in 1985, her Chartered Professional Accountant designation (CPA, CA) in 1987, and in 1996 became a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder. Ms. Pankratz currently serves as a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of Simon Fraser University and is an advisor to the Investment Committee of the Vancouver Foundation. Most recently, she was Chair of the HSBC Independent Review Committee of HSBC Global Asset Management (Canada) Limited, a member of the Board of Sherritt International and Chair of the Board of UBC Investment Management Trust. From 2006 to 2010, Ms. Pankratz served as the President of Mackenzie Cundill Investment Management Ltd. and from 2002 until 2006 as the President, Chief Compliance Officer and Director of Cundill Investment Research Ltd. and the Chief Compliance Officer of The Cundill Group. Ms. Pankratz has over 30 years of experience in the investment industry and capital markets in both executive and advisory capacities, working with multinational and international companies. For over 20 years, she has served as a board member of corporations in the financial services, global media and mining industries. Ms. Pankratz has appropriate financial knowledge and experience and has a comprehensive understanding of financial reporting.
Jerry Korpan
Mr. Korpan has worked in the securities industry since 1978 and was Managing Director of Yorkton Securities, London until December 1999. Mr. Korpan completed financial executive education courses at the City of London Business School in 1996 where he studied accounting and financial analysis and project and infrastructure finance, among other things. From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Korpan served as a director at Bema Gold, and subsequently as Chairman of Mitra Energy until 2016. Mr. Korpan has appropriate financial knowledge and experience and has a comprehensive understanding of financial reporting.
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Kevin Bullock
Mr. Bullock graduated from Laurentian University (Sudbury) in 1987 with a B.Eng and has been a registered Professional Mining Engineer in the province of Ontario since 1992. Mr. Bullock is currently President and CEO of Signal Gold Inc. He was previously Mako Mining Corp.'s CEO and prior to that was Volta Resources Inc.'s President and CEO and was the founding President and CEO of Goldcrest (a Volta predecessor company) since its inception in 2002. Mr. Bullock has over 30 years of experience, at senior levels, in mining exploration, mine development and mine operations and has been reviewing financial reports for over 20 years. Mr. Bullock has appropriate financial knowledge and experience and has a comprehensive understanding of financial reporting.
Robin Weisman
Ms. Weisman was most recently the principal investment officer at the IFC in Washington, D.C. While at IFC, her distinguished career included working with projects up to US$9 billion through managing a portfolio of natural resource and chemical projects and advising clients on risk mitigation strategies. Ms. Weisman's most recent position involved leading teams to invest debt and equity in private sector high-growth mining projects in developing countries. During her 22-year career at IFC, she developed a renowned sub-specialty in managing risks through effective corporate social responsibility, and most recently focused her energies on advancing the role of women across the resource development sector. Prior to joining IFC, she worked in increasingly senior roles including the position of vice president at Standard Chartered Bank, concentrating on structured trade financing. In her executive role at Citibank, she specialized in the currencies of emerging markets. Prior to these positions, Ms. Weisman provided financial forecasting and competitive analysis for CBS Television Network. Ms. Weisman holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance and accounting from the University of Chicago, Illinois. Ms. Weisman is a recent graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) in partnership with the Rotman School of Management. Ms. Weisman has appropriate financial knowledge and experience and has a comprehensive understanding of financial reporting.
Greg Barnes
Mr. Barnes has more than 30 years of experience in the global mining industry, providing industry-leading equity research on multiple M&A transactions and mining development projects. Most recently, Mr. Barnes served as Managing Director, Head of Mining Equity Research for TD Securities, joining the company in 2005, and oversaw the North American precious and base metal sectors. Prior to joining TD Securities, Mr. Barnes was Vice President, Mining Analyst at Canaccord Capital, and also at Yorkton Securities. Before beginning his equity research career, Mr. Barnes spent two years with Kennecott Canada, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, and three years with Falconbridge Ltd., where he was involved in corporate development and marketing. Mr. Barnes also spent several years as an exploration geologist in Northern Ontario and Newfoundland. Mr. Barnes holds a BSc in Geology from Queen's University and a MBA from York University. Mr. Barnes has appropriate financial knowledge and experience and has a comprehensive understanding of financial reporting.
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Audit Committee Oversight
At no time since the commencement of our most recently completed financial year was a recommendation of the Audit Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor not adopted by the Board.
Reliance on Certain Exemptions
At no time since the commencement of our most recently completed financial year has B2Gold relied on any exemption from NI 52-110.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit services to be provided to us by our independent auditors. The Audit Committee's policy regarding the pre-approval of non-audit services to be provided to us by our independent auditors is that all such services shall be pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Non-audit services that are prohibited to be provided to us by our independent auditors may not be pre-approved. In addition, prior to the granting of any pre-approval, the Audit Committee must be satisfied that the performance of the services in question will not compromise the independence of the independent auditors. All non-audit services performed by our auditor for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 have been pre-approved by our Audit Committee. No non-audit services were approved pursuant to the de minimis exemption to the pre-approval requirement.
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External Auditor Service Fees
The aggregate fees charged by our external auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, in each of the last two financial years are as follows:
| Financial Year | Audit Fees^(1)^ | Audit-RelatedFees^(2)^ | Tax Fees^(3)^ | All Other Fees^(4)^ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,420,987 | $159,065 | $177,916 | $27,615 |
| 2023 | $1,693,330 | $116,251 | $263,281 | $25,392 |
Notes:
The aggregate audit and review fees incurred (including audit of internal control over financial reporting).
The aggregate fees incurred for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements or sustainability assurance, which are not included under the heading Audit Fees.
The aggregate fees incurred for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning services.
The aggregate fees incurred for products and services other than as set out under the headings Audit Fees, Audit Related Fees and Tax Fees. These amounts relate to sustainability advisory services, as well as subscriptions to non-company specific training for accounting standards, regulatory requirements, and general business practices.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are, from time to time, involved in various claims, legal proceedings and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. We cannot reasonably predict the likelihood or outcome of these actions. There are no pending or contemplated legal proceedings to which we are a party or of which any of our material properties are the subject that would reasonably be expected to have a material effect on our financial condition or future results of operations. During the last financial year, we have not been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a regulatory body in respect of securities legislation or regulatory requirements or any penalty or sanction that would likely be considered important to a reasonable investor in making an investment decision. We have not entered into any settlement agreement in respect of securities legislation or regulatory requirements.
INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
No director, executive officer, person or company that beneficially owns, or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of our issued Common Shares, or any of their respective associates or affiliates, has any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction in which we have participated prior to the date of this AIF, or in any proposed transaction, which has materially affected or will materially affect us.
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Shares is Computershare Investor Services Inc. at its offices in Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia.
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
Except for contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, there are no material contracts that we have entered in the financial year ended December 31, 2024 or before the last financial year but are still in effect, other than the Indenture dated as of January 28, 2025 between the Company and
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as discussed above, which is available under our profile on the
SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.
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NAMES OF EXPERTS AND INTEREST OF EXPERTS
The following persons have been named as having prepared or certified a report, valuation, statement or opinion described or included in a filing, or referred to in a filing, made under National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations during, or relating to, our financial year ended December 31, 2024: William Lytle, P.E.; Tom Garagan, P. Geo.; Ken Jones, P.E.; Peter Montano, P.E.; John Rajala, P.E.; Andrew Brown, P. Geo; Michael Johnson, P.Geo; Michael Meyers, P.Eng; and Ali El Takch, P.Eng.
Each of William Lytle, P.E.; Tom Garagan, P. Geo.; Ken Jones, P.E.; Peter Montano, P.E.; John Rajala, P.E.; Andrew Brown, P. Geo; Michael Meyers, P.Eng.; and Ali El Takch, P.Eng., at the time of or after such person prepared or certified the applicable report, valuation, statement or opinion, (a) held registered or beneficial interests, direct or indirect, in certain of our securities or other property (or securities or other property of one of our associates or affiliates), representing less than one percent of our outstanding securities, and (b) was, or was expected to be, elected, appointed or employed as a director, officer or employee of B2Gold (or of one of our associates or affiliates).
Our independent registered public accounting firm is PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, who has issued a Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm dated February 19, 2025, in respect of our consolidated financial statements as at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 and for each of the years then ended and on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2024. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has advised that they are independent with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia Code of Professional Conduct and any applicable legislation or regulations, as well as the rules of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board on auditor independence.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information, including that relating to directors' and officers' remuneration and indebtedness, principal holders of our securities and securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, is contained in our management information circular for the annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on June 20, 2024.
Additional financial information is provided in our comparative financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024, which is available under our profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca. Additional information relating to us is available under our profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.
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SCHEDULE A AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
Effective February 19, 2025
OVERALL PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
The Audit Committee (the "Committee") of B2Gold Corp. (the "Company") will assist the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") in fulfilling its responsibilities. The Committee will assist the Board in the oversight of: (1) the integrity of the Company's financial statements and other periodic public disclosure documents and the financial reporting process; (2) the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; the external auditor's qualifications and independence; (3) the audit process; (4) the performance and work of the Company's internal audit function and external auditor and the system of internal controls; (5) the Company's management of risks; (6) and the Company's process for monitoring compliance with laws and regulations and its own Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the "Code") and policies. In performing its duties, the Committee will maintain effective working relationships with the Board, management, and the external auditors and monitor the independence of those auditors.
The Committee's function is one of oversight. The fundamental responsibility for the Company's financial statements and disclosure rests with management. It is not the duty of the Committee to plan or conduct audits or to certify that the Company's financial statements are complete and accurate and are in accordance with applicable accounting principles and standards. This is the responsibility of management (with respect to whom the Committee performs an oversight function) and the external auditors.
AUTHORITY
• The Board authorizes the Committee, within the scope of its responsibilities, to seek and have access to any information, including Company books and records, it requires from any employee and from external parties, to obtain outside legal or professional advice and to ensure the attendance of Company officers at meetings, as the Committee deems appropriate. ****
• The Committee shall receive appropriate funding from the Company, as determined by the Committee, for payment of compensation to the external auditors and to any legal or other advisers employed by the Committee, and for payment of ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
COMPOSITION, PROCEDURES AND ORGANIZATION
• The Committee will be comprised of at least three members of the Board.
• Except as permitted by all applicable legal and regulatory requirements:
o Each member, and in all cases without exception including the Chair, of the Committee shall be "independent" as defined in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 52- 110 - Audit Committee, U.S. securities laws and regulations and applicable stock exchange rules ("Independent");
o Each member of the Committee will be "financially literate" with the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company's financial statements and internal controls. Additionally, at least one member of the Committee shall have accounting or related financial management expertise and be considered an "audit committee financial expert" within the meaning of the rules promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable stock exchange rules; and
o None of the members of the Committee may have participated in the preparation of the financial statements of the Company or any current subsidiary of the Company during the past three years.
• No member of the Committee shall serve on more than two audit committees of publicly traded companies, other than the Company, at the same time such member serves on this Committee, unless the Board determines that such simultaneous service would not impair the ability of such member to effectively serve on this Committee. Such a determination shall be disclosed by the Company in the manner required by applicable laws, regulations and listing standards.
• The Board, at its organizational meeting held in conjunction with each annual general meeting of the shareholders, will appoint a Chair and the other members of the Committee for the ensuing year. The Board may at any time remove or replace any member of the Committee and may fill any vacancy in the Committee.
• The Secretary of the Committee shall be appointed by the Chair, or shall be the Secretary, or the Assistant or Associate Secretary, of the Company or any other individual appointed by the Committee.
• A member shall cease to be a member of the Committee upon ceasing to be a director of the Company.
• Meetings shall be held not less than quarterly. Special meetings shall be convened as required. On the request of the external auditor, the Chair must convene a meeting of the Committee to consider any matter that the external auditor believes should be brought to the attention of the directors or shareholders.
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• The times and places where meetings of the Committee shall be held and the procedures at such meetings shall be as determined, from time to time, by the Committee.
• Notice of each meeting of the Committee shall be given to each member of the Committee and the external auditors. Subject to the following, notice of a meeting shall be given orally or by letter, electronic mail, telephone facsimile transmission or telephone not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for the meeting. Notice of regular meetings need state only the day of the week or month, the place and the hour at which such meetings will be held and need not be given for each meeting. Members may waive notice of any meeting.
• The Committee will, in addition to the external auditors, invite management and such other persons to its meetings as it deems appropriate. However, any such invited persons may not vote at any meetings of the Committee. ****
• The Committee will have an in camera session at each meeting (i) with the external auditors without the presence of management (ii) with management without the presence of the auditors, and (iii) with only the Committee members.
• A meeting of the Committee may be held by means of such telephonic, electronic or other communications facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting.
• The majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of conducting the business of the Committee. Notwithstanding any vacancy on the Committee, a quorum may exercise all of the powers of the Committee.
• Any decision made by the Committee shall be determined by a majority vote of the members of the Committee present or by consent resolution in writing signed by each member of the Committee. A member will be deemed to have consented to any resolution passed or action taken at a meeting of the Committee unless the member votes against such resolution or abstains or is recused from voting.
• A record of the minutes of, and the attendance at, each meeting of the Committee shall be kept. The approved minutes of the Committee shall be circulated to the Board forthwith.
• The Committee shall report to the Board on all proceedings and deliberations of the Committee at the first subsequent meeting of the Board, or at such other times and in such manner as the Board or the articles of the Company may require or as the Committee in its discretion may consider advisable.
• The Committee will have access to such officers and employees of the Company and to such information respecting the Company, as it considers to be necessary or advisable in order to perform its duties and responsibilities.
• The internal accounting and compliance staff, any external accounting consultant(s) and the external auditors of the Company will have a direct line of communication to the Committee and may bypass management if deemed necessary. The external auditors will report directly to the Committee.
CHAIR RESPONSIBILITIES
The Chair of the Committee shall provide leadership and ensure effective governance and oversight of financial reporting and audit processes, and to ensure adherence to this Charter. The Chair shall:
• Make arrangements for management, the external auditors and such other parties to attend meetings, as appropriate.
• Set an agenda for all meetings after consulting with the Chair of the Board and Committee members and ensuring agenda items are addressed efficiently.
• In consultation with the Chair of the Board and the Corporate Secretary, determine the frequency, dates and locations of meetings.
• Convene and preside over all meetings of the Committee.
• Circulate minutes of all Committee meetings to the Board members and the external auditors.
• Ensure that the Committee has sufficient time and information to make informed decisions.
• Serve as the principal liaison between the Committee and the Board.
• Facilitate open communication and collaboration among Committee members, management, and external auditors.
• Liase with the Chairs of the Sustainability Committee and the Compensation Committee, as appropriate, on matters relevant to the Company's risk management.
• Liase with the Chair of the Compensation Committee on financial measures, including non-IFRS financial measures, and other financial metrics used in executive compensation.
• Carry out any other or special assignments or any functions as may be requested by the Board.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
To perform his or her role effectively, each Committee member will obtain an understanding of the functions of the Committee and the responsibilities of Committee membership as well as the Company's business, operations, risks and internal controls and procedures.
The roles and responsibilities of the Committee are as follows, recognizing that the Committee may carry out additional functions and adopt additional policies and procedures as may be necessary in response to evolving business, legislative, regulatory and legal or other conditions:
| B2GOLD 2025 Annual Information Form |
|---|
| A-3 |
| --- |
External Audit Process
- Be directly responsible for:
- The selection of the firm of external auditors to be proposed for approval by the shareholders as the external auditors of the Company;
- The oversight of the work of the Company's external auditors; and
- Subject to the grant by the shareholders of the authority to do so, if required, fixing the compensation to be paid to the external auditors.
• Recommend to the Board any change or removal of the external auditors, and in the event of a proposed change of auditor, review all issues relating to the change, including the information to be included in any notice of change of auditor as required under applicable securities laws, and the planned steps for an orderly transition.
• Review and evaluate, at least annually, and oversee the qualifications, independence and performance of the external auditors and the lead audit partner. Take into account, in such evaluation, the opinions of the Company's management and the Company's internal auditors or other personnel serving the internal audit function. Obtain from the external auditors a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the external auditors and the Company, consistent with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526. Actively engage in a dialogue with the external auditors with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that impact the objectivity and independence of the external auditor. Assure the regular rotation of the lead audit partner as may be required by law. Consider whether, in order to assure continuing external auditor independence, there should be regular rotation of the audit firm itself. The Committee should present its conclusions to the full Board.
• Review and approve the proposed audit plan and the external auditors' proposed audit scope and approach with the external auditor and management and ensure no unjustifiable restriction or limitations have been placed on the scope.
• Ascertain whether any significant financial reporting issues were discussed by management and the external auditor during the fiscal period and the method of resolution, including any major issues regarding accounting principles, including generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), and financial presentation with the external auditor and management.
• Review with the external auditors any audit problems or difficulties and management's response, including any restrictions on the scope of the external auditor's activities or access to required information and any significant disagreements with management.
• Review and resolve any significant disagreement among management and the external auditors in connection with the preparation of the financial statements.
• Meet separately, as required, with management, with the internal auditors or other personnel responsible for the Company's internal audit function, and with the external auditors to discuss any matters that the Committee believes should be discussed privately.
• Endeavour to cause the receipt and discussion on a timely basis of any significant findings and recommendations made by the external auditors.
• Review the post-audit or management letter, containing the recommendations of the external auditor, and management's response and subsequent follow-up to any identified weakness.
• At least annually, obtain, review and discuss a report by the external auditor describing the external auditor's internal quality control procedures; any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality control review, or peer review, of the external auditor, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, relating to one or more audits carried out by the external auditor, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues.
• Explicitly approve, in advance, all audit and non-audit engagements of the external auditors by the Company or its subsidiaries; provided, however, that non-audit engagements may be approved pursuant to a pre-approval policy established by the Committee that (i) is detailed as to the services that may be pre-approved, (ii) does not permit delegation of approval authority to the Company's management, and (iii) requires that the delegatee or management inform the Committee of each service approved and performed under the policy. Approval for minor non-audit services is subject to applicable securities laws.
• If it so elects, delegate to one or more members of the Committee the authority to grant such pre-approvals. The delegatee's decisions regarding approval of services shall be reported by such delegatee to the full Committee at each regular Committee meeting.
Financial Reporting and Disclosures
- Oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and the audits of the financial statements of the Company.
- Determine whether the auditors are satisfied that the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.
- Review significant accounting and reporting issues, including recent professional and regulatory pronouncements, and understand their impact on the financial statements, reviewing with management and the external auditor where appropriate.
- Review and discuss the annual financial statements and annual management's discussion and analysis, and the results of the audit with management and the external auditors prior to the submission to the Board for approval and release or distribution of such statements, and obtain an explanation from management of all significant variances between comparative reporting periods. Such review must occur at a meeting, and not merely by polling or written consent.
| B2GOLD 2025 Annual Information Form |
|---|
| A-4 |
| --- |
- Review and discuss the interim financial statements and interim management's discussion and analysis with management and the external auditors prior to the submission to the Board for approval and release or distribution of such statements, and obtain an explanation from management of all significant variances between comparative reporting periods. Such review must occur at a meeting, and not merely by polling or written consent.
- Prior to their submission to the Board and public release, review and discuss any public disclosure concerning audited or unaudited financial information, including pro forma or adjusted or non-IFRS information or forward-looking financial information (including, without limitation, annual financial statements, interim financial statements, annual or interim management's discussion and analysis, any annual or interim earnings press release, as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies, any financial outlook or future-oriented financial information, and financial information contained in any prospectus, private placement offering document, annual report, annual information form.
or takeover bid circular) and approve such disclosures for recommendation to the Board for approval.
- Assess the fairness of the financial statements and disclosures, and obtain explanations from management on whether:
- Actual financial results for the financial period varied significantly from budgeted or projected results;
- GAAP has been consistently applied;
- There are any actual or proposed changes in accounting or financial reporting practice
- there are any significant, complex and/or unusual events or transactions such as related party transactions or those involving derivative instruments and consider the adequacy of disclosure thereof;
- Focus on judgmental areas, for example those involving valuation of assets and liabilities and other commitments and contingencies;
- Review any legal matters which could significantly impact the financial statements as reported on by the General Counsel and meet with outside counsel whenever deemed appropriate;
- Be satisfied that adequate procedures are in place for the review of the Company's public disclosure of financial information extracted or derived from the Company's financial statements and periodically assess the adequacy of those procedures; and
- Ensure that the Board is aware of matters which may significantly impact the financial condition or affairs of the business.
Internal Controls
- Review the terms of reference and effectiveness of the Company's internal audit function, and the working relationship between internal financial personnel and the external auditor, understanding that the purpose of the internal audit function is to provide management and the Committee with ongoing assessments of the Company's risk management processes and system of internal control.
- Review the process under which the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer evaluate and report on the effectiveness of the Company's design of internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures.
- Review disclosures made to the Committee by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer during their certification process for any statutory documents about any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls or material weakness therein and any fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in internal controls.
- Gain an understanding of whether internal control recommendations made by external auditors have been implemented by management.
- Review the evaluation of internal controls and management information systems by the external auditor, and the Company's internal audit process, together with management's response to any identified weaknesses and obtain reasonable assurance that the accounting systems are reliable and that the system of internal controls is effectively designed and implemented.
- Review with management its philosophy with respect to controlling corporate assets and information systems, the staffing of key functions and its plans for enhancements.
- Review and oversee related party transactions, significant financing activities and methods for financing major acquisitions by the Company, and authorize policies and procedures governing investments and assess investment strategies for the Company's cash reserves.
Risk Management
- Generally oversee the Company's management of risk with a view to ensuring that the Company's risks and exposures are being effectively managed, monitored or controlled, by:
- Understanding the Company's risk philosophy as set forth by management and the Board;
- Reviewing the effectiveness of the Company's policies and procedures with respect to risk identification, assessment and management;
| B2GOLD 2025 Annual Information Form |
|---|
| A-5 |
| --- |
Reviewing and understanding the Company's major risk exposures, including without limitation financial risks, and whether management is managing these effectively; and
Reviewing the steps management has taken and management's plans and programs to monitor and control such exposures.
To the extent that risks relate to occupational health and safety, environmental, social and security matters or compensation matters, the Committee shall coordinate its oversight with the Sustainability Committee and the Compensation Committee, respectively.
Review and assess the effect of relevant regulatory initiatives and trends relevant to enterprise risk management.
Review and approve the Company's financial risk management programs, including any significant commodity, currency or interest rate hedging programs, and making recommendations to the Board with respect to such strategies.
Review audit issues related to the Company's material associated and affiliated companies that may have a significant impact on the Company's equity investment.
Review and oversee the Company's cybersecurity, privacy, technology and data security controls, including related risks and risk mitigation measures.
Review and assess the adequacy of insurance coverage for the Company, including directors' and officers' liability coverage.
Review and approve for recommendation to the Board, together with the Sustainability Committee (as it relates to occupational health and safety, environmental, social and security matters), the risk disclosure and management sections of the annual report to shareholders, the annual information form, prospectuses and other public reports or documents requiring approval by the Board, and report to the Board with respect thereto.
Compliance
- Obtain regular updates from management and the Company's legal counsel regarding compliance matters, as well as certificates from the Chief Financial Officer as to required statutory payments and bank covenant compliance and from senior operating personnel as to permit compliance.
- Obtain updates from the Disclosure Committee of the Company from time to time regarding the operation of the Company's Disclosure, Confidentiality and Insider Trading Policy.
- Review and approve the Company's hiring policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the present and former external auditors of the Company.
- Establish a procedure with regards to:
- Confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; and
- Receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters
- Monitor compliance with the Code, and if circumstances arise, review, institute investigations of and oversee the resolution of reported violations, in accordance with the Code.
- Review, institute investigations of and oversee the resolution of reported violations of or reported complaints under, and administer such other matters as required pursuant to, the Company's Anti-Corruption Policy and Whistleblower Policy. ****
- If it deems necessary, institute special investigations and, if it deems appropriate, hire special counsel or other experts or advisors (at the Company's expense) to assist or advise the Committee independently on any matter within its mandate. The Committee shall have the sole authority to retain and terminate any such special counsel, consultant or advisors, including the sole authority to set the compensation to be paid to such special counsel or other experts or advisors and other retention terms for such persons.
- Prepare any reports of the Committee that are required by applicable laws, regulations or stock exchange rules.
GENERAL
In addition to the foregoing, the Committee will:
- Report regularly to the Board on any significant matters arising from the Committee's activities, including, to the extent the Committee deems appropriate, any issues that arise with respect to the quality and integrity of the Company's financial statements and related disclosure documents, the Company's compliance with legal or regulatory requirements, the qualification and independence of the external auditor and the performance of the internal audit function and external auditor.
- At least annually, assess the Committee's performance of the duties specified in this charter and report its finding(s) to the Board.
- Review and assess the adequacy of this charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.
- Perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by the Board from time to time or as may be required by any applicable stock exchanges, regulatory authorities or legislation.
| B2GOLD 2025 Annual Information Form |
|---|
btg-20241231_d2

B2GOLD CORP.
Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2024 and 2023

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of B2Gold Corp.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of B2Gold Corp. and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive (loss) income, of changes in equity and of cash flows for the years then ended, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control ‒ Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and its financial performance and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control ‒ Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting on page 28 of the 2024 Management's Discussion and Analysis. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal
| PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
|---|
| PwC Place, 250 Howe Street, Suite 1400, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3S7 |
| T: +1 604 806 7000, F: +1 604 806 7806, Fax to mail: ca_vancouver_main_fax@pwc.com |
| “PwC” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership. |

control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Impairment of the Goose Project cash-generating unit (CGU)
As described in Notes 5 and 9 to the consolidated financial statements, during the year management identified indicators of impairment for the Goose Project CGU. As a result, management performed an impairment assessment on the Goose Project CGU. The carrying value of the CGU was compared to the CGU’s recoverable amount which was determined to be fair value less costs of disposal. Management concluded that the Goose Project CGU was impaired, resulting in an impairment of $661 million. Management estimated the recoverable amount using a discounted cash flow model. Management applied significant judgment in determining the recoverable amount of the Goose Project CGU, including the use of significant assumptions such as mineable mineralization including resources, future production levels, operating and capital costs, a long-term gold price and the discount rate for the Goose Project

CGU. Management estimates mineable mineralization including resources based on information compiled by qualified persons (management’s specialists).
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the impairment test of the Goose Project CGU is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management, including the use of management’s specialists, when estimating the recoverable amount of the Goose Project CGU; and (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to mineable mineralization including resources, future production levels, operating and capital costs, a long-term gold price and the discount rate for the Goose Project CGU. In addition, the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s impairment test, including controls over the determination of the recoverable amount of the Goose Project CGU. These procedures also included, among others, testing management’s process for determining the recoverable amount of the Goose Project CGU, which included evaluating the appropriateness of the discounted cash flow model; testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the model; and evaluating the reasonableness of significant assumptions used by management. Evaluating management’s significant assumptions with respect to future production levels, operating and capital costs and long-term gold price involved evaluating whether these significant assumptions were reasonable considering (i) the current actual costs of the Goose Project; (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data; and (iii) whether these significant assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit, as applicable. The work of management’s specialists was used in performing the procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of mineable mineralization including resources. As a basis for using this work, management’s specialists’ qualifications were understood and the Company’s relationship with management’s specialists was assessed. The procedures performed also included evaluating the methods and significant assumptions used by management’s specialists, testing of the data used by management’s specialists and evaluating management’s specialists’ findings. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in the evaluation of the reasonableness of the discount rate.
Impairment of the Fekola Complex CGU
As described in Notes 5 and 9 to the consolidated financial statements, during the year management identified indicators of impairment for the Fekola Complex CGU, which consists of the Fekola Mine and Fekola Regional Properties. As a result, management performed an impairment assessment on the Fekola Complex CGU. The carrying value of the CGU was compared to the CGU’s recoverable amount which was determined to be fair value less costs of disposal. Management concluded that the Fekola Complex CGU was impaired, resulting in an impairment of $215 million. Management estimated the recoverable amount using a discounted cash flow model. Management applied significant judgment in determining the recoverable amount of the Fekola Complex CGU, including the use of significant assumptions such as mineable mineralization including reserves and resources, future production levels, operating and capital costs, the expected application of fuel taxes, revised royalty and revenue based tax

rates, a long-term gold price and the discount rate for the Fekola Complex CGU. Management estimates mineable mineralization including reserves and resources based on information compiled by qualified persons (management’s specialists).
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the impairment test of the Fekola Complex CGU is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management, including the use of management’s specialists, when estimating the recoverable amount of the Fekola Complex CGU; and (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions, related to mineable mineralization including reserves and resources, future production levels, operating and capital costs, the expected application of fuel taxes, revised royalty and revenue based tax rates, a long-term gold price and the discount rate for the Fekola Complex CGU. In addition, the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s impairment test, including controls over the determination of the recoverable amount of the Fekola Complex CGU. These procedures also included, among others, testing management’s process for determining the recoverable amount of the Fekola Complex CGU, which included evaluating the appropriateness of the discounted cash flow model; testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the model; and evaluating the reasonableness of significant assumptions used by management. Evaluating management’s significant assumptions with respect to future production levels, operating and capital costs, the expected application of fuel taxes, revised royalty and revenue based tax rates and long-term gold price involved evaluating whether these significant assumptions were reasonable considering: (i) the current and past performance of the Fekola Mine; (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data; (iii) results of negotiations with the State of Mali; and (iv) whether these significant assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit, as applicable. The work of management’s specialists was used in performing the procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of mineable mineralization including reserves and resources. As a basis for using this work, management’s specialists’ qualifications were understood and the Company’s relationship with management’s specialists was assessed. The procedures performed also included evaluating the methods and significant assumptions used by management’s specialists, testing of the data used by management’s specialists, and evaluating management’s specialists’ findings. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in the evaluation of the reasonableness of the discount rate.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
Vancouver, Canada
February 19, 2025
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2007.
| B2GOLD CORP. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||
| FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31 | ||||
| (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except shares and per share amounts) | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Gold revenue | $ | 1,902,030 | $ | 1,934,272 |
| Cost of sales | ||||
| Production costs (Note 24) | (681,828) | (616,197) | ||
| Depreciation and depletion | (367,408) | (402,371) | ||
| Royalties and production taxes | (146,599) | (135,703) | ||
| Total cost of sales | (1,195,835) | (1,154,271) | ||
| Gross profit | 706,195 | 780,001 | ||
| General and administrative | (59,483) | (62,364) | ||
| Share-based payments (Note 14) | (24,678) | (20,921) | ||
| Impairment of long-lived assets (Notes 9 and 10) | (876,376) | (322,148) | ||
| Gain on sale of mining interests (Note 9) | 56,115 | — | ||
| Gain on sale of shares in associate (Note 10) | 16,822 | — | ||
| Non-recoverable input taxes | (13,211) | (5,600) | ||
| Foreign exchange losses | (23,692) | (16,020) | ||
| Share of net income of associates (Note 10) | 2,630 | 19,871 | ||
| Community relations | (2,909) | (5,205) | ||
| Write-down of mining interests (Note 9) | (636) | (19,905) | ||
| Restructuring charges (Note 9) | — | (12,151) | ||
| Other expense (Note 16) | (29,104) | (8,161) | ||
| Operating (loss) income | (248,327) | 327,397 | ||
| Interest and financing expense | (34,848) | (13,925) | ||
| Interest income | 20,734 | 18,519 | ||
| Change in fair value of gold stream (Note 18) | (26,825) | (12,300) | ||
| Losses on dilution of associate (Note 10) | (8,984) | (943) | ||
| (Losses) gains on derivative instruments (Note 17) | (2,837) | 4,699 | ||
| Other expense | (8,137) | (3,114) | ||
| (Loss) income from operations before taxes | (309,224) | 320,333 | ||
| Current income tax, withholding and other taxes (Note 21) | (319,726) | (290,081) | ||
| Deferred income tax recovery (Note 21) | 2,297 | 11,336 | ||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (626,653) | $ | 41,588 |
| Attributable to: | ||||
| Shareholders of the Company | $ | (629,891) | $ | 10,097 |
| Non-controlling interests (Note 15) | 3,238 | 31,491 | ||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (626,653) | $ | 41,588 |
| (Loss) earnings per share (attributable to shareholders of the Company) (Note 14) | ||||
| Basic | $ | (0.48) | $ | 0.01 |
| Diluted | $ | (0.48) | $ | 0.01 |
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands) (Note 14) | ||||
| Basic | 1,308,850 | 1,232,092 | ||
| Diluted | 1,308,850 | 1,237,404 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
| B2GOLD CORP. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME | ||||
| FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31 | ||||
| (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Net (loss) income | $ | (626,653) | $ | 41,588 |
| Other comprehensive income | ||||
| Items that will not be subsequently reclassified to net income: | ||||
| Gains on investments, net of deferred income tax (Note 8) | 22,485 | 20,613 | ||
| Other comprehensive income | 22,485 | 20,613 | ||
| Total comprehensive (loss) income for the year | $ | (604,168) | $ | 62,201 |
| Other comprehensive income attributable to: | ||||
| Shareholders of the Company | $ | 22,485 | $ | 20,613 |
| Non-controlling interests | — | — | ||
| $ | 22,485 | $ | 20,613 | |
| Total comprehensive (loss) income attributable to: | ||||
| Shareholders of the Company | $ | (607,406) | $ | 30,710 |
| Non-controlling interests | 3,238 | 31,491 | ||
| $ | (604,168) | $ | 62,201 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
| B2GOLD CORP. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||||
| FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31 | ||||
| (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Operating activities | ||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (626,653) | $ | 41,588 |
| Mine restoration provisions settled (Note 13) | (2,088) | (2,297) | ||
| Non-cash charges, net (Note 22) | 1,289,104 | 802,577 | ||
| Proceeds from prepaid sales (Note 19) | 500,023 | — | ||
| Changes in non-cash working capital (Note 22) | (155,179) | (6,538) | ||
| Changes in long-term inventory | (55,413) | (26,153) | ||
| Changes in long-term value added tax receivables | (72,190) | (94,724) | ||
| Cash provided by operating activities | 877,604 | 714,453 | ||
| Financing activities | ||||
| Revolving credit facility draw downs (Note 12) | 450,000 | 150,000 | ||
| Revolving credit facility repayments (Note 12) | (200,000) | — | ||
| Revolving credit facility transaction costs (Note 12) | (4,247) | (3,296) | ||
| Equipment facility draw downs, net of transaction costs (Note 12) | 7,779 | — | ||
| Repayment of equipment loan facilities (Note 12) | (11,042) | (13,301) | ||
| Interest and commitment fees paid | (11,648) | (4,582) | ||
| Common shares issued for cash in flow-through financing (Note 14) | 10,073 | — | ||
| Cash proceeds from stock option exercises (Note 14) | 3,122 | 12,854 | ||
| Dividends paid (Note 14) | (184,632) | (186,724) | ||
| Principal payments on lease arrangements (Note 12) | (6,531) | (6,189) | ||
| Distributions to non-controlling interest (Note 15) | (122,869) | (34,316) | ||
| Extinguishment of gold stream and construction financing obligations (Note 9) | — | (111,819) | ||
| Other | 923 | 4,863 | ||
| Cash used by financing activities | (69,072) | (192,510) | ||
| Investing activities | ||||
| Expenditures on mining interests: | ||||
| Fekola Mine | (257,776) | (298,942) | ||
| Masbate Mine | (29,763) | (30,142) | ||
| Otjikoto Mine | (28,842) | (61,063) | ||
| Goose Project | (515,391) | (282,338) | ||
| Fekola Regional Properties | (16,861) | (55,975) | ||
| Gramalote Project | (17,128) | (6,380) | ||
| Other exploration (Note 22) | (52,629) | (76,005) | ||
| Cash proceeds on sale of investment in associate (Note 10) | 100,302 | — | ||
| Cash proceeds on sale of long-term investment (Note 8) | 92,564 | — | ||
| Purchase of long-term investment (Note 8) | (16,576) | (33,282) | ||
| Purchase of shares in associate (Note 10) | (9,089) | — | ||
| Cash proceeds from sale of mining interest (Note 9) | 7,500 | — | ||
| Purchase of short-term investments (Note 6) | (16,361) | — | ||
| Redemption of short-term investments (Note 6) | 5,386 | — | ||
| Funding of reclamation accounts | (5,797) | (6,541) | ||
| Cash acquired on acquisition of Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. (Note 9) | — | 38,083 | ||
| Transaction costs paid on acquisition of Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. (Note 9) | — | (6,672) | ||
| Cash paid for purchase of non-controlling interest (Note 9) | — | (6,704) | ||
| Cash paid for acquisition of Gramalote Property interest (Note 9) | — | (20,393) | ||
| Other | (2,840) | 1,015 | ||
| Cash used by investing activities | (763,301) | (845,339) | ||
| Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 45,231 | (323,396) | ||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (15,155) | (21,655) | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 306,895 | 651,946 | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | $ | 336,971 | $ | 306,895 |
| Supplementary cash flow information (Note 22) |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
| B2GOLD CORP. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | ||||
| (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) | ||||
| As at | As at | |||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| December 31, | December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
| Assets | ||||
| Current | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 336,971 | $ | 306,895 |
| Accounts receivable, prepaids and other (Note 6) | 41,059 | 27,491 | ||
| Value-added and other tax receivables | 46,173 | 29,848 | ||
| Inventories (Note 7) | 477,586 | 346,495 | ||
| 901,789 | 710,729 | |||
| Long-term investments (Note 8) | 76,717 | 86,007 | ||
| Value-added tax receivables | 244,147 | 199,671 | ||
| Mining interests (Note 9) | 3,291,435 | 3,563,490 | ||
| Investment in associates (Note 10) | 91,417 | 134,092 | ||
| Long-term inventories (Note 7) | 134,529 | 100,068 | ||
| Other assets (Note 11) | 73,964 | 63,635 | ||
| Deferred income taxes (Note 21) | — | 16,927 | ||
| $ | 4,813,998 | $ | 4,874,619 | |
| Liabilities | ||||
| Current | ||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 156,352 | $ | 167,117 |
| Current income and other taxes payable | 103,557 | 120,679 | ||
| Current portion of prepaid gold sales (Note 19) | 272,781 | — | ||
| Current portion of long-term debt (Note 12) | 16,419 | 16,256 | ||
| Current portion of gold stream obligation (Note 18) | 6,900 | — | ||
| Current portion of mine restoration provisions (Note 13) | 7,170 | 3,050 | ||
| Other current liabilities | 17,508 | 6,369 | ||
| 580,687 | 313,471 | |||
| Long-term debt (Note 12) | 421,464 | 175,869 | ||
| Gold stream obligation (Note 18) | 159,525 | 139,600 | ||
| Prepaid gold sales (Note 19) | 265,329 | — | ||
| Mine restoration provisions (Note 13) | 140,541 | 104,607 | ||
| Deferred income taxes (Note 21) | 169,738 | 188,106 | ||
| Employee benefits obligation | 18,410 | 19,171 | ||
| Other long-term liabilities | 22,607 | 23,820 | ||
| 1,778,301 | 964,644 | |||
| Equity | ||||
| Shareholders’ equity | ||||
| Share capital (Note 14) | 3,510,271 | 3,454,811 | ||
| Contributed surplus | 91,184 | 84,970 | ||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (102,771) | (125,256) | ||
| Retained (deficit) earnings | (515,619) | 395,854 | ||
| 2,983,065 | 3,810,379 | |||
| Non-controlling interests (Note 15) | 52,632 | 99,596 | ||
| 3,035,697 | 3,909,975 | |||
| $ | 4,813,998 | $ | 4,874,619 | |
| Commitments (Note 26) | ||||
| Subsequent events (Note 12) | ||||
| Approved by the Board | "Clive T. Johnson" | Director | "Lisa M. Pankratz" | Director |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
| B2GOLD CORP. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |||||||||||||||
| Shares<br>(‘000’s) | Share<br>capital | Contributed<br><br>surplus | Accumulated<br><br>other<br><br>comprehensive<br><br>loss | Retained (deficit) earnings | Non-<br><br>controlling<br><br>interests | Total<br>equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | 1,302,396 | $ | 3,454,811 | $ | 84,970 | $ | (125,256) | $ | 395,854 | $ | 99,596 | $ | 3,909,975 | |||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | — | — | — | — | (629,891) | 3,238 | (626,653) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends (Note 14) | 9,140 | 24,566 | 1,141 | — | (210,700) | — | (184,993) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain on investments, net of deferred income tax (Note 8) | — | — | — | 22,485 | — | — | 22,485 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued for flow-through financing (Note 14) | 2,700 | 7,058 | — | — | — | — | 7,058 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued on exercise of stock options (Note 14) | 1,247 | 3,122 | — | — | — | — | 3,122 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued on vesting of RSUs (Note 14) | 1,614 | 6,839 | (6,839) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued on vesting of PSUs (Note 14) | 944 | 7,604 | (7,604) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued from incentive trust (Note 14) | — | 24 | — | — | — | — | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Transactions with non-controlling interests (Note 9 and Note 15) | — | — | — | — | (70,882) | (50,202) | (121,084) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based payments (Note 14) | — | — | 25,763 | — | — | — | 25,763 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Transfer to share capital on exercise of stock options and incentive trust shares | — | 6,247 | (6,247) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | 1,318,041 | $ | 3,510,271 | $ | 91,184 | $ | (102,771) | $ | (515,619) | $ | 52,632 | $ | 3,035,697 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |||||||||||||||
| Shares<br>(‘000’s) | Share<br>capital | Contributed<br><br>surplus | Accumulated<br><br>other<br><br>comprehensive<br><br>loss | Retained earnings | Non-<br><br>controlling<br><br>interests | Total<br>equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | 1,074,695 | $ | 2,487,624 | $ | 78,232 | $ | (145,869) | $ | 588,139 | $ | 103,663 | $ | 3,111,789 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | 10,097 | 31,491 | 41,588 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares and replacement options issued on acquisition of Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. (Note 9) | 216,452 | 925,375 | 5,075 | — | — | — | 930,450 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends (Note 14) | 4,005 | 11,833 | 1,258 | — | (200,116) | — | (187,025) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain on investments, net of deferred income tax (Note 8) | — | — | — | 20,613 | — | — | 20,613 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued on exercise of stock options (Note 14) | 5,063 | 12,854 | — | — | — | — | 12,854 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued on vesting of RSUs (Note 14) | 1,440 | 5,988 | (5,988) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued on vesting of PSUs (Note 14) | 741 | 5,658 | (8,603) | — | — | — | (2,945) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Transactions with non-controlling interests (Note 15) | — | — | — | — | (2,266) | (35,558) | (37,824) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based payments (Note 14) | — | — | 20,475 | — | — | — | 20,475 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Transfer to share capital on exercise of stock options | — | 5,479 | (5,479) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | 1,302,396 | $ | 3,454,811 | $ | 84,970 | $ | (125,256) | $ | 395,854 | $ | 99,596 | $ | 3,909,975 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
1Nature of operations
B2Gold Corp. (“B2Gold” or the “Company”) is a Vancouver-based gold producer with three operating mines: the Fekola Mine in Mali, the Masbate Mine in the Philippines and the Otjikoto Mine in Namibia, and a fourth mine under construction, the Goose Project in Canada. The Company also owns the Gramalote Project in Colombia. The Company holds an approximately 33% interest in Versamet Royalties Corporation ("Versamet") and a portfolio of evaluation and exploration assets in a number of countries including Mali and Finland.
B2Gold is a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “BTO”, the NYSE American LLC exchange under the symbol “BTG” and the Namibian Stock Exchange under the symbol “B2G”. B2Gold’s head office is located at Suite 3400, Park Place, 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2X8.
2Basis of preparation
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”). These consolidated financial statements were authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on February 19, 2025.
3Recent accounting pronouncements
Pronouncements implemented
Amendments to IAS 1 - Presentation of Financial Statements
In January 2020, the IASB issued amendments to IAS 1, Presentation of financial statements titled "Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current" and in October 2022, the IASB issued further clarification titled "Non-current Liabilities with Covenants". These amendments outlined that liabilities should be classified as non-current if a company has a substantive right to defer settlement for at least 12 months at the end of the reporting period. The amendments were effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2024 and adoption of these amendments did not have an effect on our financial statements.
Pronouncements issued but not yet effective
Amendments to IFRS 9, Financial instruments, and IFRS 7, Financial instruments: Disclosures
In May 2024, the IASB issued amendments to update the classification and measurement requirements in IFRS 9 and related disclosure requirements in IFRS 7 as follows:
•Clarified the recognition and derecognition date of certain financial assets and liabilities and amended the requirements related to settling financial liabilities using an electronic payment system.
•Clarified how to assess the contractual cash flow characteristics of financial assets in determining whether they meet the solely payments of principal and interest criteria.
•New disclosures for certain instruments with contractual terms that can change cash flows (including instruments with features linked to environmental, social and corporate governance targets).
•Additional disclosure requirements for financial instruments with contingent features that do not relate directly to basic lending risks and costs.
•Amended disclosures relating to equity instruments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income.
The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026, with early application permitted for certain provisions. The Company is currently assessing the effect of these amendments to its financial statements but has not yet adopted.
IFRS 18, Presentation and disclosure in financial statements
In April 2024, the IASB issued IFRS 18, Presentation and disclosure in financial statements ("IFRS 18"), which replaces IAS 1, Presentation of financial statements. IFRS 18 introduces a specified structure for the income statement by requiring income and expenses to be presented in three defined categories (operating, investing and financing), and by specifying certain defined totals and subtotals. Where company-specific measures related to income statement disclosure are provided ("management-defined performance measures"), such as certain non-GAAP measures, IFRS 18 requires additional disclosure around those management-defined performance measures in the financial statements. IFRS 18 also provides additional guidance on principles of aggregation and disaggregation which apply to the primary financial statements and the
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
notes. IFRS 18 does not affect the recognition and measurement of items in the financial statements, nor does it affect which items are classified in other comprehensive income and how these items are classified.
The standard is effective for reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2027, including for interim financial statements. Retrospective application is required and early application is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the effect of this new standard to its financial statements but has not yet adopted it.
4Summary of material accounting policies
The material accounting policies used in the preparation of these financial statements are as follows:
Principles of consolidation
The financial statements of the Company consolidate the accounts of B2Gold and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions, balances, and unrealized gains and losses from intercompany transactions are eliminated on consolidation.
The Company’s most significant wholly-owned and partially owned subsidiaries are presented below:
| % interest | ||
|---|---|---|
| - | Fekola SA (“Fekola Mine”) | 80 |
| - | B2Gold Namibia (Pty) Ltd. (“Otjikoto Mine”) | 90 |
| - | Philippines Gold Processing & Refining Corporation (“Masbate Mine”) | 100 |
| - | Filminera Resources Corporation ("Masbate Mine") | 40 |
| - | B2Gold Back River Corp ("Goose Project") | 100 |
| - | Gramalote Limited ("Gramalote Project") | 100 |
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company. Control exists when the Company has power over an investee, when the Company is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from the investee and when the Company has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is obtained by B2Gold and are de-consolidated from the date that control ceases.
The Company holds its interest in the Masbate Gold Project (which operates the Masbate Mine) through two indirectly-owned subsidiaries. B2Gold has a 100% interest in Philippines Gold Processing & Refining Corporation (“PGPRC”) and a 40% interest in Filminera Resources Corporation (“FRC”). The remaining 60% interest in FRC is held by a Philippines-registered company that is owned by a Philippine shareholder. The Company consolidates the Masbate Gold Project as a result of its ownership interests and the contractual relationship between the entities. FRC owns the majority of the Masbate Gold Project tenements. PGPRC owns the process plant and is responsible for the sale of all gold. PGPRC and FRC have a contractual relationship, which includes PGPRC purchasing all of the ore production from FRC at a price equal to the cost for the ore plus a predetermined margin. For accounting purposes, this contractual relationship gives the Company control to consolidate FRC.
The Company's interests in Versamet and BeMetals Corp. ("BeMetals") are accounted for as investment in associates (Note 10). The Company does not control these entities, but does exert significant influence over their operations. The Company accounts for its interest in these associates using the equity method.
The Company established a trust arrangement under its Incentive Plan (Note 14) for the benefit of its directors, officers, employees and service providers. The Company consolidates this trust as it has the power to control its financial and operating policies and obtain the benefits from its activities.
Investments in joint arrangements and associates
A joint arrangement is a contractual arrangement whereby two or more parties undertake an economic activity that is subject to joint control. Joint control is the contractually agreed sharing of control of an arrangement, which exists only when decisions about the relevant activities require the unanimous consent of the parties sharing control.
The Company considers whether a joint arrangement is a joint operation or joint venture. The parties to a joint operation have the rights to the underlying assets and are exposed to the underlying liabilities of the joint arrangement. The Company accounts for investment in joint operations by recognizing its share of the operations underlying assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. The parties to a joint venture have an interest in the underlying net assets of the joint arrangement.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Investments in joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method. The equity method involves recording the initial investment at cost. Additional funding into an investee is recorded as an increase in the carrying value of the investment. The carrying amount is adjusted by the Company’s share of post-acquisition net income or loss, dilution gains or losses (resulting from changes in ownership interest), depreciation or amortization.
An associate is an entity over which the Company has significant influence, but not control. Investments in associates are also accounted for using the equity method.
Business combinations
A business combination requires that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed constitute a business. A business is an integrated set of activities and assets that is capable of being conducted and managed for the purpose of providing goods or services to customers, generating investment income (such as dividends or interest) or generating other income from ordinary activities. A business consists of inputs and processes applied to those inputs that have the ability to create outputs. Although businesses usually have outputs, outputs are not required for an integrated set to qualify as a business as the Company considers other factors to determine whether the set of activities or assets is a business.
The Company has an option to apply a ‘concentration test’ to assess whether an acquired set of activities and assets are not a business. If substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired are concentrated in a single, identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets, the concentration test is met, and the transaction is accounted for as an asset acquisition. In such cases, the acquirer identifies and recognizes the individual identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The cost of the net assets is allocated to the individual identifiable assets and liabilities on the basis of their relative fair values at the date of purchase. Such a transaction or event will not give rise to goodwill. Acquisition-related costs in an asset acquisition are recognized as part of the cost of the assets acquired.
Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method whereby acquired assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition with the excess of the purchase consideration over such fair value being recorded as goodwill. Non-controlling interest in an acquisition may be measured at either fair value or at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the fair value of the acquiree’s net identifiable assets.
The excess of (i) total consideration transferred by the Company, measured at fair value, including contingent consideration, and (ii) the non-controlling interests in the acquiree, over the acquisition-date fair value of the net of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, is recorded as goodwill. If the fair value attributable to the Company’s share of the identifiable net assets exceeds the cost of acquisition, the difference is recognized as a gain in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Should the consideration be contingent on future events, the cost of the acquisition recorded includes management’s best estimate of the fair value of the contingent amounts expected to be payable. Provisional fair values allocated at the reporting date are finalized within one year of the acquisition date with retroactive restatement to the acquisition date as required.
Transaction costs, other than those associated with the issue of debt or equity securities, which the Company incurs in connection with a business combination, are expensed as incurred.
Foreign currency translation
Functional and presentation currency
Items included in the financial statements of each of the group's entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (“the functional currency”). The consolidated financial statements are presented in United States dollars, which is the Company’s presentation currency. The Company’s mining operations operate within an economic environment where the functional currency is the United States dollar. References to "$" or "US$" are to United States dollars, while references to "Cdn. $" are to Canadian dollars.
Transactions and balances
Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the United States dollar as follows:
•Monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the rates of exchange at the Consolidated Balance Sheet date;
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
•Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical exchange rates prevailing at each transaction date;
•Revenue and expenses are translated at the exchange rate at the date of the transaction, except depreciation, depletion and amortization, which are translated at historical exchange rates, and share-based compensation expense, which is translated at the rates of exchange applicable at the date of grant of the share-based compensation; and
•Exchange gains and losses on translation are included in earnings. When the gain or loss on certain non-monetary items, such as long-term investments classified as fair value through other comprehensive income (“OCI”) is recognized in OCI, the translation differences are also recognized in OCI.
Group companies
For any subsidiaries or joint ventures whose functional currency differs from the United States dollar, balances and transactions are translated into the United States dollar as follows:
•Assets and liabilities are translated at the rates of exchange at the Consolidated Balance Sheet date;
•Revenue and expenses are translated at average exchange rates throughout the reporting period or at rates that approximate the actual exchange rates; items such as depreciation are translated at the monthly average exchange rate; and
•Exchange gains and losses on translation are included in OCI.
The exchange gains and losses are recognized in earnings upon the substantial disposition, liquidation or closure of the entity that gave rise to such amounts.
Financial instruments
The Company recognizes financial assets and liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet when the Company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits held with banks, and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Cash and cash equivalents are classified as financial assets and subsequently measured at amortized cost.
Accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities are non-interest bearing. Accounts receivable are classified as financial assets and accounts payable and accrued liabilities are classified as financial liabilities. They are initially measured at fair value and subsequently recorded at amortized cost, which approximates fair value due to the short term to maturity. Accounts receivable are net of expected credit losses.
Long-term investments
Equity investments in entities that are not subsidiaries, joint ventures or investments in associates are classified as fair value through profit and loss ("FVTPL") unless they are irrevocably designated, on an individual basis, as fair value through other comprehensive income ("FVOCI"). These investments are measured at fair value on acquisition and at each reporting date. Any unrealized holding gains and losses related to long-term investments designated as FVOCI are excluded from net earnings and are included in OCI. Upon disposal, any accumulated gains and losses remain in equity.
Lease liabilities
Lease liabilities are interest bearing and are initially measured at the present value and subsequently recorded at amortized cost.
Debt
The Company initially recognizes all financial liabilities at fair value and classifies them as subsequently measured at either FVTPL or amortized cost, as appropriate. For debt subsequently measured at amortized cost, the effective interest rate method is used. Debt classified as FVTPL is measured at fair value on each financial period-end date with gains and losses flowing through the Consolidated Statement of Operations. For debt that is optionally classified as FVTPL, the part of the fair value change related to the Company’s own credit risk is recorded in OCI rather than the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Derivative instruments
Derivative instruments, including embedded derivatives, are recorded at FVTPL and accordingly recorded at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheet with changes in the fair value being recognized as gains or losses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Fair values for derivative instruments are determined using valuation techniques, using assumptions based on market conditions existing at the balance sheet date.
Impairment of financial assets held at amortized cost
At each reporting date, the Company measures the loss allowance for financial assets held at amortized cost at an amount equal to the lifetime expected credit losses if the credit risk on the financial assets has increased significantly since initial recognition. If at the reporting date, the credit risk on the financial assets has not increased significantly since initial recognition, the Company measures the loss allowances for the financial assets at an amount equal to twelve month expected credit losses.
Derecognition of financial assets
Financial assets are derecognized when the investments mature or are sold, and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred. Gains and losses on derecognition of financial assets classified as FVTPL or amortized cost are recognized within other non-operating income. Accumulated gains or losses on financial assets classified as FVOCI remain within accumulated other comprehensive income.
Inventories
Gold and silver bullion, in-process and stockpile inventories are recorded at the lower of average cost and net realizable value. The cost of finished goods and work-in-progress comprises raw materials, direct labour, and other direct costs, as well as stripping in the production stage and related production overheads (based on normal operating capacity) including applicable depreciation on property, plant and equipment. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price less applicable selling expenses and cost to complete.
When inventories have been written down to net realizable value, a new assessment of net realizable value is made in each subsequent period. If the circumstances that caused the write down no longer exist, the amount of the write down on inventory not yet sold is reversed.
Materials and supplies inventories are valued at the lower of average cost and net realizable value. Cost includes acquisition, freight and other directly attributable costs.
Mining interests
Mining interests include property, plant and equipment, mineral properties, construction-in-progress (including mine development costs), deferred stripping, exploration and evaluation expenditures, capitalized borrowing costs, and impairment.
Mineral properties
Mineral properties (including mine development costs) are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. When production commences, these costs are amortized using the units-of-production ("UOP") method, based on recoverable ounces from the estimated proven and probable reserves plus a portion of measured and indicated resources that are reasonably expected to be converted to proven and probable reserves.
Capitalization of mine development costs to construction-in-progress ceases when the mine is capable of operating in the manner intended by management. The Company applies judgement in its assessment of when a mine is capable of operating in the manner intended by management which takes account of the design of the mine and the nature of the initial commissioning phase of the mine.
In accordance with the amendments to IAS 16, Property, plant and equipment, for new mines commissioned on or after January 1, 2022, revenues and the associated cost of production for any items produced during the commissioning phase are recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Non-recoverable costs for projects determined not to be commercially feasible are expensed in the period in which the determination is made or when the carrying value of the project is determined to be impaired.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Deferred stripping
Deferred stripping costs are included as a component of mineral property costs. Stripping costs incurred during the production phase of a mine are considered production costs and are included in the cost of inventory produced during the period in which stripping costs are incurred, unless the stripping activity can be shown to be a betterment of the mineral property. Betterment occurs when stripping activity increases future output of the mine by providing access to additional reserves. Stripping costs incurred to provide access to the ore body for extraction are capitalized as mineral property costs and are amortized on a UOP basis over the reserves and resources to which they relate.
Construction-in-progress
Qualifying assets in the course of construction are capitalized as construction-in-process until the asset is substantially complete and ready for its intended use, at which time, it is transferred to the appropriate category of mineral property or buildings, plant and equipment and depreciation commences.
Buildings, plant and equipment
Buildings, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Repairs and maintenance expenditures are charged to operating costs; major improvements and replacements which extend the useful life of an asset are capitalized to the cost of the asset. Buildings, plant and equipment are amortized over the life of the mine using the UOP method based on the recoverable ounces from the estimated proven and probable reserves and a portion of the measured and indicated resources that are reasonably expected to be converted to proven and probable reserves. Mobile equipment, tailings dams and other equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over three to six years as appropriate, net of residual value. The Company allocates the amount initially recognized in respect of an item of buildings, plant and equipment to its significant components and depreciates separately each component part. Residual values, method of amortization and useful lives of the assets are reviewed annually and adjusted if appropriate.
Exploration and Evaluation Expenditures
The Company defers the cost of acquiring, maintaining its interest in, exploring and evaluating a mineral property as exploration and evaluation until a decision to construct, abandon or sell the property is made. Once the technical feasibility and commercial viability of the extraction of mineral reserves or resources from a particular mineral property has been determined, exploration and evaluation expenditures are reclassified to “mineral property costs”. If no mineable ore body is discovered, such costs are expensed in the period in which it is determined the property has no future economic value. Exploration costs that do not relate to any specific property are expensed as incurred.
The establishment of technical feasibility and commercial viability of a mineral property is assessed based on a combination of factors, such as but not limited to:
•The extent to which mineral reserves or mineral resources have been identified through a feasibility study or similar level document;
•The results of optimization studies and further technical evaluation carried out to mitigate project risks identified in the feasibility study;
•The status of environmental permits; and
•The status of mining leases or permits.
In addition, commercial viability is deemed to be achieved when the Company determines that the project will provide a satisfactory return relative to its perceived risks. Ore reserves and resources may be declared for an undeveloped mining project before its commercial viability has been fully determined. Evaluation costs may continue to be capitalized during the period between declaration of reserves and approval to mine as further work is undertaken in order to refine the development case to maximize the project’s returns.
Borrowing costs
Borrowing costs attributable to the construction of qualifying assets, which take a substantial period of time to make ready for their intended use, are added to the cost of the assets until such time as the assets are substantially complete and ready for their intended use. The amount of borrowing costs capitalized cannot exceed the actual amount of borrowing costs incurred in a period. All other borrowing costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Impairment and reversals of impairment
The carrying amounts of long-lived assets are tested for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If there are indicators of impairment, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount and is recorded as an expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s “fair value less costs of disposal” ("FVLCD") and “value-in-use”. Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit ("CGU") to which the asset belongs is determined. FVLCD is determined as the amount that would be obtained from the sale of the asset less costs of disposal in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable and willing parties. For mining assets this would generally be determined based on the present value of the estimated future cash flows arising from the continued development, use or eventual disposal of the asset. In assessing these cash flows and discounting them to the present value, assumptions used are those that an independent market participant would consider appropriate. In assessing “value-in-use”, the estimated future cash flows expected to arise from the continuing use of the assets in their present form and from their disposal are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and risks specific to the asset.
Impairment losses are evaluated for potential reversals when events or circumstances warrant such consideration. Where an impairment loss is subsequently reversed, the amount of such reversal is limited such that the revised carrying amount of the asset or CGU does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset or CGU in the prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognized into earnings immediately.
Leases
At the inception of a contract, to determine if it contains a lease, the Company assesses whether it conveys the right to control and obtain substantially all of the economic benefits of an identified asset, for a period of time, in exchange for consideration. Where a contract contains a lease, the Company recognizes a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the commencement date of the lease.
The right-of-use asset is measured at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses and may be adjusted for any remeasurement of the lease liability. Cost is the amount of the initial lease liability plus any initial direct costs incurred and any lease payments made at or before the commencement date less any incentives received.
The right-of-use assets are included in the cost of property, plant and equipment for the associated mining interest on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. They are depreciated, in accordance with the Company's existing accounting policy, over the shorter of the lease term or the life of the asset.
The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of future lease payments discounted at the interest rate implicit in the contract. If the implicit rate cannot be determined, the incremental borrowing rate over a similar term and with similar security for the funds necessary to obtain an asset of similar value in a similar economic environment is used. The lease payments include fixed payments less any incentives receivable, variable lease payments that depend on an index or rate and amounts expected to be paid under residual value guarantees. Where the lease contains an extension or purchase option, the costs associated with the option are included if it is reasonably expected to be exercised by the Company.
Thereafter, the amount of the lease liability is increased to reflect the accretion of interest and reduced for the lease payments made. In addition, the carrying amount of the lease liability is remeasured to reflect any modifications to the contract terms. Lease liabilities are presented as a component of debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The Company has elected not to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for contracts that have a lease term of 12 months or less or are for the use of low value assets. These contracts are recognized as an expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the period the cost is incurred. In addition, for certain asset classes, the Company has elected to treat both lease and non-lease components as a single lease component for the purposes of applying IFRS 16, Leases.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Mine restoration provisions
Future obligations to retire an asset including dismantling, removal from site where required, remediation, on-going treatment, monitoring and other site closure activities are initially recognized and recorded as a liability based on estimated future cash flows discounted at a risk free rate. The measurement determination is based on estimated future cash flows, the current risk-free discount rate, and an estimated inflation factor. The value of restoration provisions is adjusted at each reporting period for changes to factors including the expected amount of cash flows required to discharge the liability, the timing of such cash flows and the risk-free interest rate. The liability is added to the carrying amount of the associated asset, and this additional carrying amount is depreciated over the life of the asset. The liability is accreted to full value over time through periodic charges to earnings. This unwinding of the discount is expensed in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. As reclamation work is performed or liabilities are otherwise settled, the recorded amount of the liability is reduced.
Share-based payments
The cost of stock options and other equity-settled share-based payment arrangements, including restricted share units and performance share units, is recorded based on the estimated fair-value at the grant date and charged to earnings over the vesting period.
The Company grants stock options to certain employees and directors. Each tranche is considered a separate award with its own vesting period and grant date fair value. The fair value of each tranche is measured at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Compensation expense is recognized over the tranche’s vesting period by a charge to earnings, with a corresponding increase to contributed surplus based on the number of awards expected to vest. The number of awards expected to vest is reviewed at least annually, with any impact being recognized immediately.
The Company grants performance share units to certain officers and employees. Each tranche is considered a separate award with its own vesting period and grant date fair value. The fair value of each tranche is measured at the date of grant using a risk neutral Monte Carlo simulation based on a correlated Geometric Brownian Motion. Compensation expense is recognized over the tranche’s vesting period by a charge to earnings, with a corresponding increase to contributed surplus based on the number of awards expected to vest. The number of awards expected to vest is reviewed at least annually, with any impact being recognized immediately.
Cash settled share-based payment arrangements, including deferred share units and restricted phantom units are measured at fair value using the market value of the underlying shares on the date of issuance. The liability is then remeasured at market value on each reporting date until settlement with any gains or losses flowing through share-based payments expense.
Current and deferred income taxes
Income tax comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations except to the extent that it relates to items recognized directly in equity, in which case the income tax is also recognized directly in equity. Taxes on income in interim periods are recorded using the tax rate that would be applicable to expected annual profit.
Current tax is the expected tax payable on taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted, at the end of the reporting period.
Payments to governments arising due to specific legislation or separate negotiation with the local authorities in the countries the Company operates are assessed to determine whether they are in the scope of IAS 12, Income taxes. Those that are based on measures of profit earned are assessed to be in scope of IAS 12, while those calculated on sales or production are recorded as an operating expense.
For the Fekola Mine, income taxes in Mali are assessed on a mine-specific basis determined by the respective Mining Code and Convention. As the profit measure used to calculate State of Mali’s preferred share interest is determined to be revenue less costs as defined by the relevant legislation, which is the 2012 Mining Code, the 2023 Mining code and the Fekola Mining Convention, this arrangement is determined to be a tax on income and not an operating cost or profit sharing interest and, therefore, in the scope of IAS 12.
The Company uses judgement in determining whether payments arising due to specific legislation or separate negotiation with the relevant authorities are in scope of IAS 12.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Deferred tax is recognized in respect of temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial statements. Deferred income tax is determined on a non-discounted basis using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date and are expected to apply when the deferred tax asset or liability is reversed. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that the assets can be recovered.
Deferred income tax is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, except, in the case of subsidiaries, where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference is controlled by the Company and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. As an exception, deferred tax assets and liabilities are not recognized if the temporary differences arise from the initial recognition of goodwill, or an asset or liability in a transaction (other than in a business combination) that affects neither accounting profit nor taxable profit.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are presented as non-current.
Revenue
Gold revenue is recognized when it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Company, delivery has occurred, the sales price is reasonably determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. These criteria are generally met at the time the product is delivered to the customer and, depending on the delivery conditions, title and the risks and rewards of ownership have passed to the customer and acceptance of the product, when contractually required, has been obtained. Gold revenue is measured based on the price specified in the sales contract at the time of sale.
Prepaid gold sales are recognized as deferred revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and recognized as revenue in the Consolidated Statement of Operations when control transfers to the customer upon delivery of gold. The contract price is considered to contain a significant financing component given the long term nature of the upfront payment and the period of time between the receipt of the upfront cash and the transfer of control of the product. This will result in recognition of an interest charge on the upfront amount that increases the future revenue to be recognized.
Silver revenue is accounted for as a by-product and is recorded as a credit to operating costs.
Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the net income for the year attributable to shareholders of the Company by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.
Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution from common share equivalents on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year if the resulting shares would be dilutive. For stock options, the potential dilutive impact is calculated using the treasury share method whereby all “in-the-money” options are assumed to have been exercised at the beginning of the year and the proceeds from the exercise are assumed to have been used to purchase common shares at the average market price during the period.
5Significant accounting judgements and estimates
The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires judgements and estimates that affect the amounts reported. Those judgements and estimates concerning the future may differ from actual results. The following are the areas of accounting policy judgement and accounting estimates applied by management that most significantly affect the Company’s financial statements, including those areas of estimation uncertainty that could result in a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year.
Areas of judgement
Assessment of impairment and reversal of impairment indicators for long-lived assets
The Company applies significant judgement in assessing whether there are indicators of impairment or impairment reversal present that give rise to the requirement to conduct an impairment test. Internal and external factors such as significant changes in the use of the asset, legal and permitting factors, future gold prices, operating and capital cost forecasts, quantities of mineral reserves and resources, and movements in market interest rates are used by management in determining whether there are any indicators.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company identified changes to the indicators of impairment on the Fekola Complex CGU, consisting of the Fekola Mine and Fekola Regional Properties, and the Goose Project CGU. As a result, these assets were tested for impairment (Note 9). During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company identified indicators of impairment on the Fekola Complex CGU and the Gramalote Project. As a result, these assets were tested for impairment (Note 9).
Uncertain tax positions
The Company’s operations involve the application of complex tax regulations in multiple international jurisdictions. Determining the tax treatment of a transaction requires the Company to apply judgement in its interpretation of the applicable tax law. These positions are not final until accepted by the relevant tax authority. The tax treatment may change based on the result of assessments or audits by the tax authorities often years after the initial filing.
The Company recognizes and records potential liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on its assessment of the amount, or range of amounts, of tax that will be due. The Company adjusts these accruals as new information becomes available. Due to the complexity and uncertainty associated with certain tax treatments, the ultimate resolution could result in a payment that is materially different from the Company’s current estimate of the tax liabilities.
Capitalization of exploration and evaluation expenditures
The application of the Company’s accounting policy for capitalization of exploration and evaluation expenditures requires judgement in determining whether the future economic benefit is likely, either through future exploitation or sale, where properties have not reached a stage which permits a reasonable assessment of the existence of reserves. The deferral policy requires management to make certain judgements about future events or circumstances, in particular whether an economically viable mine can be established. Judgement is applied in the determination of whether any impairment indicators exist at each reporting date giving consideration to factors including mining title expiration dates, budgeted expenditures, discontinuation of activities in any area, and evaluation of any data which would indicate that the carrying amount of exploration and evaluation assets is not recoverable. If new information becomes available suggesting that the recovery of the carrying amount of exploration and evaluation assets is unlikely, the amount capitalized is written off in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the period when the new information becomes available.
Determination of control or significant influence over investees
The assessment of whether the Company has a significant influence or control over an investee requires the application of judgement when assessing factors that could give rise to a significant influence or control. Factors evaluated when making a judgement of control or significant influence over an investee include, but are not limited to, ownership percentage, representation on the board of directors, participation in the policy-making process, material transactions and contractual arrangements between the Company and the investee, interchange of managerial personnel, provision of essential technical information and potential voting rights. In evaluating these factors, the Company determines the level of influence over the investee the Company has. Changes in the Company's assessment of the factors used in determining if control or significant influence exists over an investee would impact the accounting treatment of the investment in the investee.
Business combinations and asset acquisitions
The assessment of whether an acquisition meets the definition of a business or whether it is a purchase of assets is a key area of judgment. If deemed to be a business combination, the acquisition method requires acquired assets and liabilities assumed to be recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition with the excess of the purchase consideration over such fair value being recorded as goodwill. Where an acquisition involves a purchase of assets the purchase price is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their relative fair value and no goodwill arises on the transaction. The acquisition of Sabina during the year ended December 31, 2023, was determined to be a purchase of assets (Note 9).
Sources of estimation uncertainty
Fair value of financial instruments
The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market are determined using valuation techniques. In determining the fair value of the gold stream obligation (Note 18), the Company makes significant assumptions that are based on the underlying models and the market conditions existing at both initial recognition and the end of each reporting period.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Mineral reserve and resource estimates
Mineral reserves are estimates of the amount of ore that can be economically and legally extracted from the Company’s mining properties. The Company estimates its mineral reserves and mineral resources based on information compiled by appropriately qualified persons relating to the geological data on the size, depth and shape of the ore body, and requires complex geological assessments to interpret the data. The estimation of recoverable mineral reserves is based upon factors such as estimates of foreign exchange rates, commodity prices, future capital requirements, metallurgical recoveries, permitting and production costs along with geological assumptions made in estimating the size, and grade of the ore body. Changes in the mineral reserve or mineral resource estimates may impact the carrying value of mining interests, mine restoration provisions, the gold stream obligation, recognition of deferred tax assets, depreciation and amortization charges and royalties receivable.
Impairment of long-lived assets
Long-lived assets are tested for impairment, or reversal of a previous impairment, if there is an indicator of impairment or a subsequent reversal (Note 9). Calculating the estimated recoverable amount of CGUs for long-lived asset requires management to make estimates and assumptions that include such factors as mineable mineralization including reserves and resources, future production levels, operating and capital costs, application of royalty, income tax and mining tax rates, future metal prices and discount rates. Changes in any of these assumptions or estimates used in determining the recoverable amount could impact the analysis. Such changes could be material.
Value-added tax receivables
The Company incurs indirect taxes, including value-added tax, on purchases of goods and services at its operating mines and development projects. Indirect tax balances are recorded at their estimated recoverable amounts within current or long-term assets, net of provisions, and reflect the Company’s best estimate of their recoverability under existing tax rules in the respective jurisdictions in which they arise. Management’s assessment of recoverability considers the probable outcomes of claimed deductions and/or disputes. The provisions and balance sheet classifications made to date may be subject to change and such change may be material.
Long-term value-added tax receivables includes amounts for the Fekola Mine of $214 million (2023 - $137 million), for the Masbate Mine of $13 million (2023 – $45 million), and for the Gramalote Project of $17 million (2023 - $18 million).
Current and deferred income taxes
The Company is periodically required to estimate the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Where applicable tax laws and regulations are either unclear or subject to varying interpretations, it is possible that changes in these estimates could occur that materially affect the amounts of deferred income tax assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities generally have a direct impact on earnings in the period that the changes occur.
Each period, the Company evaluates the likelihood of whether some portion or all of each deferred tax asset will not be realized. This evaluation is based on historic and future expected levels of taxable income and the associated repatriation of retained earnings, the pattern and timing of reversals of taxable temporary timing differences that give rise to deferred tax liabilities, and tax planning initiatives. Levels of future taxable income are affected by, among other things, metal prices, production costs, quantities of proven and probable gold reserves, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. The availability of retained earnings for distribution depends on future levels of taxable income as well as future reclamation expenditures, capital expenditures, dividends and other uses of available cash flow.
6Accounts receivable, prepaids and other
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Short-term investments | 11,565 | — |
| Supplier advances | 9,757 | 10,533 |
| Prepaid expenses | 9,157 | 8,639 |
| Current portion of derivative instruments (Note 17) | 2,217 | 481 |
| Other receivables | 8,363 | 7,838 |
| 41,059 | 27,491 | |
| B2GOLD CORP. | ||
| --- | ||
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 | ||
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
7Inventories
The current inventory balance is made up as follows:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Gold and silver bullion | 34,181 | 53,065 |
| In-process inventory | 45,607 | 18,220 |
| Ore stock-pile inventory | 62,076 | 80,302 |
| Materials and supplies | 335,722 | 194,908 |
| 477,586 | 346,495 |
The long-term inventory balance is made up as follows:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Ore stock-pile inventory | 67,891 | 56,497 |
| Materials and supplies | 66,638 | 43,571 |
| 134,529 | 100,068 |
Current ore stock-pile inventory includes amounts for the Fekola Mine of $14 million (2023 - $59 million), for the Otjikoto Mine of $10 million (2023 – $7 million), for the Masbate Mine of $15 million (2023 - $14 million) and for the Goose Project of $23 million (2023 - $nil). During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded an expense of $1 million to reduce the value of the stock-pile inventory at the Goose Project to its estimated net realizable value.
Long-term stock-pile inventory includes amounts for the Otjikoto Mine of $50 million (2023 – $44 million), for the Fekola Mine of $9 million (2023 - $6 million), and for the Masbate Mine of $9 million (2023 - $6 million).
Long-term supplies inventory are supplies for construction and operations at the Goose Project that are expected to be consumed beyond the next twelve months.
8Long-term investments
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | AOCI | Fair value | Cost | AOCI | Fair value | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Snowline Gold Corp. | 39,011 | 16,566 | 55,577 | 32,759 | 19,909 | 52,668 |
| Founders Metals Inc. | 8,705 | 5,500 | 14,205 | — | — | — |
| St. Augustine Gold & Copper Ltd. | 20,193 | (16,408) | 3,785 | 20,193 | (15,562) | 4,631 |
| AuMEGA Metals Ltd. | 3,839 | (1,813) | 2,026 | 2,885 | (1,253) | 1,632 |
| RTG Mining Inc. | 13,400 | (13,023) | 377 | 13,400 | (13,092) | 308 |
| West African Resources Ltd. | — | — | — | 20,530 | (6,261) | 14,269 |
| Osino Resources Corp. | — | — | — | 6,955 | 5,340 | 12,295 |
| Other | 1,563 | (816) | 747 | 899 | (695) | 204 |
| 86,711 | (9,994) | 76,717 | 97,621 | (11,614) | 86,007 |
On June 20, 2024, the Company sold 79 million of its 111 million shares in its associate Calibre Mining Corp ("Calibre") for proceeds of $100 million (see Note 10). As a result of the decreased shareholding and no longer having the right to nominate a member to the Board of Directors of Calibre, the Company determined it no longer had significant influence over Calibre. The remaining investment of 32 million shares, valued at $43 million, was reclassified to Long-term investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Subsequently, the Company sold the remaining 32 million shares for proceeds of $58 million.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company sold its 22 million share investment in West African Resources Ltd. for proceeds of $19 million and its 12 million share investment in Osino Resources Corp. for proceeds of $16 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company purchased an additional 1.6 million shares of Snowline Gold Corp. ("Snowline") at an average cost of Cdn. $5.47 for a total cost of $6 million to maintain a 9.9% interest in Snowline in accordance with the Company's rights under its shareholder agreement.
On November 5, 2024, the Company purchased 4.4 million shares in Founders Metals Inc. at Cdn. $2.75 per share for a total cost of $9 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company made other smaller purchases of long-term investments at a cost of $2 million.
9Mining interests
| Mineral Properties | Buildings, plant & equipment | Construction-in-progress | Exploration & evaluation assets | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Cost | |||||
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | 2,203,412 | 1,679,345 | 16,596 | 511,867 | 4,411,220 |
| Acquisitions | — | 41,166 | 1,050,326 | 114,898 | 1,206,390 |
| Additions | 193,443 | 197,704 | 388,272 | 61,832 | 841,251 |
| Disposals | — | (25,479) | — | — | (25,479) |
| Write-downs | — | — | — | (19,905) | (19,905) |
| Transfers | 21,087 | 61,414 | (61,414) | (21,087) | — |
| Change in mine restoration provision estimates | (495) | — | 363 | (150) | (282) |
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | 2,417,447 | 1,954,150 | 1,394,143 | 647,455 | 6,413,195 |
| Additions | 152,559 | 87,234 | 685,869 | 23,901 | 949,563 |
| Capitalized interest | — | — | 30,008 | — | 30,008 |
| Disposals | (21,087) | (27,165) | — | (10,230) | (58,482) |
| Write-downs | — | — | — | (636) | (636) |
| Transfers | 771,391 | 73,523 | (849,872) | — | (4,958) |
| Change in mine restoration provision estimates | 32,333 | — | 3,687 | 1,819 | 37,839 |
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | 3,352,643 | 2,087,742 | 1,263,835 | 662,309 | 7,366,529 |
| Accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment | |||||
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | (1,150,839) | (853,167) | — | (132,484) | (2,136,490) |
| Depreciation and depletion | (241,194) | (171,155) | — | — | (412,349) |
| Impairment | (96,800) | (65,753) | — | (154,710) | (317,263) |
| Disposals | — | 16,397 | — | — | 16,397 |
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | (1,488,833) | (1,073,678) | — | (287,194) | (2,849,705) |
| Depreciation and depletion | (192,495) | (181,027) | — | — | (373,522) |
| Impairment | (770,848) | (57,855) | — | (47,673) | (876,376) |
| Disposals | — | 24,509 | — | — | 24,509 |
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | (2,452,176) | (1,288,051) | — | (334,867) | (4,075,094) |
| Net book value at December 31, 2023 | 928,614 | 880,472 | 1,394,143 | 360,261 | 3,563,490 |
| Net book value at December 31, 2024 | 900,467 | 799,691 | 1,263,835 | 327,442 | 3,291,435 |
Impairment of the Goose Project CGU
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company completed an updated construction cost estimate for the Goose Project. The updated estimate, which showed a significant increase in the expected construction cost to complete, was determined to be an indicator of impairment for the Goose Project assets. As a result, the Company performed an impairment assessment on the Goose Project CGU. The carrying value of the CGU was compared to the CGU’s recoverable
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
amount which was determined to be its FVLCD. To estimate the recoverable amount of the CGU for impairment, the Company utilized a discounted cash flow model incorporating significant assumptions that included such factors as mineable mineralization including resources, future production levels, operating and capital costs, long-term gold price of $1,900 per ounce, and a discount rate of 6% for the Goose Project CGU. Management’s estimate of the FVLCD of its CGU is classified as level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s estimate of future cash flows is subject to risks and uncertainties and therefore could change in the future if the underlying assumptions change.
The Company’s analysis concluded that the Goose Project CGU was impaired resulting in an impairment charge of $661 million recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations during the year ended December 31, 2024.
The recoverable amount of the Goose Project CGU is most sensitive to changes in the gold price and discount rate. In isolation, a $50 per ounce decrease in the gold price would result in a reduction in the recoverable amount of the Goose Project CGU of approximately $80 million. In isolation, a 25 basis point increase in the discount rate would result in a reduction in the recoverable amount of the Goose Project CGU of approximately $23 million.
Impairment of the Fekola Complex CGU
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the State of Mali (the "State") introduced a new mining code (the “2023 Mining Code”) and related Local Content Law. In July 2024, the accompanying Implementation Decrees, which clarify how the provisions of the 2023 Mining Code and Local Content Law should be applied, were enacted into law. At June 30, 2024, the Company and the State remained in ongoing negotiations related to how certain components of the 2023 Mining Code should be applied to the Fekola Complex. On September 11, 2024, the Company reached a Memorandum of Understanding (the "Agreement") with the State which covers the ongoing operation and governance of the Fekola Complex as well as the settlement of existing income tax, customs and other regulatory disputes covering the period 2016 to December 31, 2023 and the distribution of dividends attributed to the State of Mali up to December 31, 2023 (see Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Mali).
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded an impairment of $206 million for the Fekola Complex based on the Company's best estimate of the application of the 2023 Mining Code at that date. A net impairment charge of $192 million after taking into account a deferred income tax recovery of $14 million was recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2023.
At June 30, 2024, the known and estimated changes to the financial framework of the Fekola Complex as impacted by the 2023 Mining Code, including the status of the ongoing discussions with the State at that time, were considered to be updated indicators of impairment for the Fekola Complex assets as at June 30, 2024. As a result, at June 30, 2024, the Company performed an updated impairment assessment on the Fekola Complex CGU. The carrying value of the CGU was compared to the CGU’s recoverable amount which was determined to be its FVLCD. To estimate the recoverable amount of the CGU for impairment, the Company utilized a discounted cash flow model incorporating significant assumptions that included such factors as mineable mineralization including reserves and resources, future production levels, operating and capital costs, the expected application of fuel taxes, revised royalty and revenue based tax rates, long-term gold price of $1,900 per ounce, and a discount rate of 7.5% for the Fekola Complex. The expected outcome of material terms of the Agreement were considered in arriving at the key estimates used to determine the FVLCD for the Fekola Complex as of June 30, 2024. Management’s estimate of the FVLCD of its CGU is classified as level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s estimate of future cash flows is subject to risks and uncertainties and therefore could change in the future if the underlying assumptions change.
The Company’s analysis concluded that the Fekola Complex CGU was impaired resulting in an impairment of $215 million. A net impairment charge of $194 million after taking into account a deferred income tax recovery of $21 million was recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2024.
The recoverable amount of the Fekola Complex CGU is most sensitive to changes in the gold price and discount rate. In isolation, a $50 per ounce decrease in the gold price would result in a reduction in the recoverable amount of the Fekola Complex CGU of approximately $96 million. In isolation, a 25 basis point increase in the discount rate would result in a reduction in the recoverable amount of the Fekola Complex CGU of approximately $12 million.
Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Mali
Pursuant to the Agreement, the Fekola Mine (including the Fekola underground) continues to be governed by the 2012 Mining Code and the Fekola Mining Convention through 2040, but will be subject to certain revenue-based production taxes and infrastructure funds that were determined not to be stabilized under the 2012 Code, along with the application of taxes
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
to fuel purchases. As new mining projects, the Fekola Regional properties are expected to be governed by the 2023 Mining Code subject to a negotiated 2% reduction in royalty based tax rates as provided under the Agreement.
Other principal terms of the Agreement are summarized as follows:
•Settlement of income tax and customs assessments for the period from 2016 through 2023 of $70 million, which was paid during the year ended December 31, 2024. An expense of $67 million (net of previous accruals) was recorded as an income tax expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2024;
•Settlement of other regulatory disputes related to the timing of repatriation of funds of $17 million. This amount was paid upon signing of the Agreement and has been recorded in Other Expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2024;
•Distribution of retained earnings of $107 million attributed to the State of Mali's non-controlling interest from its 10% ordinary share ownership in the Fekola Mine up to December 31, 2023. The ordinary dividend was paid during the year ended December 31, 2024;
•Upon completion of certain conditions precedent, the State of Mali's 10% ordinary share interest in Fekola was converted into a 10% preferred share interest. The rights of the additional preferred share interest are consistent with the State of Mali's 10% free carried interest including priority dividend rights, therefore, this is accounted for as an income tax under IAS 12 Income taxes. Under the agreement, the State's preferred share interest rights were applied from January 1, 2024 onwards. As at December 31, 2024, the State held a 20% preferred share interest in Fekola and the remaining 80% interest in Fekola continued to be held by B2Gold as an ordinary share interest; and
•In addition to the above, the Company forgave the principal and accrued interest balance outstanding totalling $69 million on the loan made to the State for the purchase of their 10% ordinary share ownership. This was recorded within Equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Versamet transaction
On June 5, 2024, the Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement (the "Versamet Agreement") to sell a portfolio of ten metal royalties (the "Royalties") to a private company, Versamet. Under the terms of the Versamet Agreement, the royalty sale is split into two tranches.
Upon completion of the first tranche, on June 5, 2024, the Company received 122 million Versamet shares at Cdn. $0.80 per share for proceeds of $71 million in exchange for the following royalties:
•2.7% net smelter return (“NSR”) royalty on the Kiaka Gold Project, with a book value of $18 million;
•2.7% NSR royalty on the Toega Gold Deposit, with a book value of $3 million;
•1.5% NSR royalty on the Primavera Project, with no book value; and
•Two exploration stage royalties, with no book value.
The Royalties comprising the second tranche were subject to certain rights of first refusal that needed to be exercised within 60 days of the transaction date. Upon completion of the second tranche, on August 13, 2024, the Company received 17 million Versamet shares at Cdn. $0.80 per share for proceeds of $10 million in exchange for the following royalties:
•2% NSR royalty on the Mocoa Project, with a carrying value value of $10 million;
•Three additional exploration stage royalties, with a nominal carrying value.
The book value of the Royalties was included within mining interests. The gain on sale of mining interests was calculated as follows:
| $ | |
|---|---|
| Fair value of common shares received | 81,433 |
| Transaction costs | (1,500) |
| Net proceeds received | 79,933 |
| Kiaka Royaly | 18,488 |
| Mocoa Royalty | 10,230 |
| Toega Royalty | 2,599 |
| Book value of assets sold | 31,317 |
| Gain on sale of mining interests | 48,616 |
The Company and Versamet also entered into an Investor Rights Agreement which entitles B2Gold to nominate one member to Versamet’s Board of Directors and pro rata participation rights with respect to future capital raises. The Company
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
determined that it has significant influence over the decision-making processes of Versamet due to the ability to nominate a Director to the Board and owning 33% of the outstanding share capital. As a result, the Company's investment in Versamet has been recorded as an Investment in Associate in the Consolidated Balance Sheet (Note 10).
Acquisition of Sabina
On April 19, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition (the “Transaction”) of Sabina Gold & Silver Corp ("Sabina"), resulting in the acquisition of the 100% owned Back River Gold District, including the Goose Project, located in Nunavut, Canada. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase of assets as the Company concluded that it did not acquire processes that could develop the acquired inputs into an operating mine. For accounting purposes, it was determined that B2Gold obtained control of Sabina on April 14, 2023, which is the date when the Transaction was irrevocably approved by the Supreme Court of British Columbia, giving the Company the ability to direct the use of the net assets acquired.
The purchase price of the acquisition was $937 million, consisting of the fair value of B2Gold shares issued of $925 million, based on the issuance of 216,451,555 B2Gold shares at Cdn. $5.72 per share and a foreign exchange rate of Cdn. $1.3379 to $1, the fair value of B2Gold replacement stock options of $5 million (3 million equivalent stock options for B2Gold common shares), plus B2Gold transaction costs of $7 million.
The purchase price was calculated as follows:
| $ | |
|---|---|
| Common shares issued (216,451,555 common shares) | 925,375 |
| Fair value of B2Gold replacement stock options | 5,075 |
| Transaction costs | 6,672 |
| Total purchase price | 937,122 |
The purchase price was allocated based on the relative fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as follows:
| $ | |
|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | 38,083 |
| Accounts receivable, prepaids and other | 816 |
| Value added and other tax receivables | 2,637 |
| Mining interest - Construction-in-progress - Goose Project | 1,050,326 |
| Mining interest - Buildings, plant & equipment | 33,921 |
| Mining interest - Exploration & Evaluation Asset - Hackett River Royalty | 64,540 |
| Mining interest - Exploration & Evaluation Assets - Other | 28,533 |
| Other assets | 15,738 |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (41,344) |
| Current portion of long-term debt | (3,770) |
| Construction financing obligations | (65,419) |
| Gold stream obligation | (173,700) |
| Long-term debt | (6,716) |
| Mine restoration provision | (3,436) |
| Other long-term liabilities | (3,087) |
| 937,122 |
Following completion of the Transaction, the Company extinguished certain gold stream and construction financing obligations with payments totalling $112 million, as follows:
•a $46 million payment to extinguish one-third of the gold stream obligation;
•a $63 million payment to extinguish the gold metal off take agreement;
•a $2 million payment to extinguish the senior secured debt facility; and
•a $1 million payment to extinguish the $75 million gold prepay facility
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Gramalote Property
On October 5, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of the remaining 50% of the net assets of the Gramalote Project from its joint venture partner AngloGold Ashanti Limited ("AngloGold"). The acquisition has been accounted for as a purchase of assets as the Company concluded that it did not acquire processes that could develop the acquired inputs into an operating mine.
The purchase price consists of the following cash payments to AngloGold contingent on certain milestones:
•$20 million paid upon closing of the transaction
•$10 million contingent consideration to be paid upon B2Gold announcing a construction decision at the Gramalote Project;
•$10 million to be paid upon commercial production at the Gramalote Project, contingent on commercial production beginning within five years of closing;
•$10 million contingent consideration to be paid on the first anniversary of commercial production at the Gramalote Project;
•$10 million contingent consideration to be paid on the second anniversary of commercial production at the Gramalote Project.
The total purchase price of $35 million, including an estimate of the fair value of the future contingent payments, was determined using the expected value approach in accordance with IFRS 13, Fair value measurements. The purchase price is composed as follows:
| $ | |
|---|---|
| Cash consideration upon closing | 20,000 |
| Fair value of contingent consideration | 14,298 |
| Transaction costs | 393 |
| Total purchase price | 34,691 |
The purchase price was allocated based on the relative fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as follows:
| $ | |
|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | 1,606 |
| Accounts receivable, prepaids and other | 2,197 |
| Value added tax receivables (non-current) | 8,567 |
| Mining interest - Gramalote | 25,568 |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (1,317) |
| Lease liabilities | (111) |
| Current income and other taxes payable | (144) |
| Mine restoration provision | (1,675) |
| 34,691 |
Future contingent payments are recognized as a liability at amortized cost. The expected value approach develops a set of probability-based outcomes for the payment of contingent consideration discounted based on market participant assumptions to determine the fair value. The assumptions used in the valuation included the timing and probability of contingent payments and the discount rate. The fair value of the contingent consideration was estimated to be $14 million. The total purchase price was allocated based on the relative fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including the mining interest, working capital, value-added tax receivables and mine restoration provisions. The value of the 50% Gramalote Project mining interest was determined to be $26 million.
The acquisition of AngloGold's 50% share of the Gramalote Project was considered to be an impairment indicator for the Company's existing 50% interest in the Gramalote Project under IFRS 6, Exploration and evaluation of mineral resources, for the year ended December 31, 2023. The recoverable amount of $26 million allocated to the Company's existing 50% share of the Gramalote Project resulted in an impairment of $112 million recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations during the year ended December 31, 2023.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Otjikoto
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company communicated to employees about the phased closure plan for the Otjikoto Mine that began in 2023. The announcement of the planned closure of the mine resulted in an obligation for severance pay under Namibian law. The undiscounted severance obligation before inflation adjustments was estimated at $16 million. The present value of these payments was $12 million using a Namibian based discount rate of 11%, a Namibian based inflation rate of 7% and a Namibian dollar ("N$") exchange rate of N$18.30 to $1. The present value of these payments was recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and as a restructuring charge in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Other
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company wrote-off $1 million (2023 - $20 million) relating to non-core properties that it no longer plans to proceed with.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company sold a royalty on the Quebradona Property in Colombia, with no book value, to the owner of the property for proceeds of $7.5 million. This amount was recorded as a Gain on Sale of Mining Interests in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company paid $7 million in cash to buy the remaining 5% non-controlling interest ownership of Menankoto SARL, giving it 100% ownership of the property. The loss on the purchase of $7 million was recorded in retained earnings on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2023.
As at December 31, 2024 the Company had leased assets of $35 million (2023 - $34 million) under IFRS 16. The leased assets primarily consisted of the corporate offices of $17 million, cost of $24 million net of $7 million in accumulated depreciation, (2023 - $19 million, cost of $24 million net of $5 million in accumulated depreciation) and other leased assets of $18 million, cost of $32 million net of $14 million in accumulated depreciation, (2023 - $15 million, costs of $24 million net of $9 million in accumulated depreciation) classified as buildings, plant and equipment.
10Investment in associates
| Versamet | BeMetals | Calibre | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | — | 8,275 | 111,774 | 120,049 |
| Share of net income (loss) | — | (251) | 20,122 | 19,871 |
| Impairment | — | (4,885) | — | (4,885) |
| Loss on dilution | — | — | (943) | (943) |
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | — | 3,139 | 130,953 | 134,092 |
| Shares acquired | 88,933 | 1,589 | — | 90,522 |
| Share of net (loss) income | (1,866) | (378) | 4,874 | 2,630 |
| Shares sold | — | — | (83,480) | (83,480) |
| Transfer to long-term investments | — | — | (43,363) | (43,363) |
| Loss on dilution | — | — | (8,984) | (8,984) |
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | 87,067 | 4,350 | — | 91,417 |
Calibre
On January 24, 2024, the Company's associate Calibre completed the acquisition of Marathon Gold Corporation ("Marathon"). As a result of the Calibre shares issued for the acquisition of Marathon, the Company's interest in Calibre was diluted from 24% to 15%, resulting in a dilution loss of $9 million. Despite owning less than 20% of Calibre, the Company determined that, at that time, it still had significant influence over its associate due to, among other things, the Company's right to nominate one Director to the Board of Calibre.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
On June 20, 2024, the Company sold 79 million of its 111 million shares in Calibre for proceeds of $100 million (net of transaction costs). The gain on sale of the Calibre shares was calculated as follows:
| $ | |
|---|---|
| Fair value of common shares received | 101,455 |
| Transaction costs | (1,153) |
| Net proceeds received | 100,302 |
| Book value of associate | 126,843 |
| Transfer to long-term investments | (43,363) |
| Book value of assets sold | 83,480 |
| Gain on sale of mining interests | 16,822 |
The equity accounting for Calibre is based on its published results to June 30, 2024. The Company's equity share of Calibre's estimated net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $5 million (2023 - $20 million).
As a result of the decreased shareholding and no longer having the right to nominate a member to the Board of Directors of Calibre, the Company determined it no longer had significant influence over Calibre. The remaining investment at June 20, 2024, of 32 million shares, valued at $43 million, was reclassified to Long-term investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheet (Note 8).
Versamet transaction
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company closed the sale of certain royalties to Versamet (see Note 9) in exchange for common shares in Versamet valued at $81 million. On August 13, 2024, the Company also completed a private placement for 13 million shares of Versamet valued at Cdn. $0.81 per share for total cost of $7.5 million.
The Company and Versamet also entered into an Investor Rights Agreement which entitles B2Gold to nominate one member to Versamet’s Board of Directors and pro rata participation rights with respect to future capital raises. The Company determined that it has significant influence over the decision-making processes of Versamet due to the ability to nominate a Director to the Board and owning 33% of the outstanding share capital. As a result, the Company's investment in Versamet has been recorded as an Investment in Associate in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The equity accounting for Versamet is based on its published results to September 30, 2024. The following is a summary of the Condensed Interim Statement of Financial Position of Versamet at September 30, 2024 on a 100% basis: Current assets - $10 million, non-current assets - $231 million, total assets - $240 million, current liabilities - $17 million, non-current liabilities - $5 million and net assets - $218 million. The following is a summary of the Condensed Interim Statement of Operations of Versamet for the nine months ending September 30, 2024 on a 100% basis: Revenues - $9 million, production costs - $7 million, depreciation and depletion - $1 million, other operating expenses - $2 million, stock-based compensation - $2 million, deferred income tax expense - $3 million and net income - $5 million. The Company's equity share of Versamet's estimated net loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $2 million (2023 - $nil).
BeMetals
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company completed a private placement for an additional 22 million shares of BeMetals at a cost of Cdn. $0.10 per share for a total cost of $2 million.
The trading price of BeMetals on December 31, 2024 was Cdn $0.05 per share which corresponds to a quoted market value of $2 million (at a closing exchange rate of Cdn $1.45 per US$) for the Company's investment.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company determined that its associate BeMetals had become impaired due to the significant and prolonged decline in the fair value of the BeMetals shares held. The Company recorded an impairment loss of $5 million to reflect the fair value of the investment in BeMetals.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
The equity accounting for BeMetals is based on its most recent published results to September 30, 2024. BeMetals files its financial results in Canadian dollars. The Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Financial Position has been converted to United States dollars at a rate of Cdn. $1.45 and the Condensed Statement of Loss and Comprehensive Loss has been converted at a rate of Cdn. $1.37. The following is a summary of the Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Financial Position of BeMetals at September 30, 2024 on a 100% basis: Current assets - $3 million, non-current assets - $22 million, total assets - $26 million, and net assets - $17 million. The following is a summary of the Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Loss and Comprehensive Loss of BeMetals for the nine months ending September 30, 2024 on a 100% basis: net loss and comprehensive loss - $1 million.
11Other assets
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Reclamation deposits | 54,375 | 50,934 |
| Prepaid withholding tax | 14,473 | — |
| Restricted cash | 5,054 | 5,259 |
| Loan to associate | — | 5,763 |
| Other | 62 | 1,679 |
| 73,964 | 63,635 |
Reclamation deposits include amounts for the Fekola Mine of $22 million (2023 - $21 million), for the Otjikoto Mine of $18 million (2023 – $14 million), for the Goose Project of $11 million (2023 - $12 million) and for the Masbate Mine of $4 million (2023 - $4 million).
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company advanced $2 million (2023 - $2 million) to its associate BeMetals. Also during the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded an expected credit loss of $7 million (2023 - $2 million) on its loan to its associate.
12Long-term debt
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| New revolving credit facility: | ||
| Principal amount | 400,000 | — |
| Unamortized financing costs | (8,310) | — |
| 391,690 | — | |
| Old revolving credit facility: | ||
| Principal amount | — | 150,000 |
| Unamortized financing costs | — | (7,365) |
| — | 142,635 | |
| Equipment loans: | ||
| Fekola equipment loan facilities (net of unamortized transaction costs) | 13,319 | 13,875 |
| Goose equipment loan facility (net of unamortized transaction costs) | 3,588 | 6,776 |
| 16,907 | 20,651 | |
| Lease liabilities | 29,286 | 28,839 |
| Total debt | 437,883 | 192,125 |
| Current portion | (16,419) | (16,256) |
| Long-term debt | 421,464 | 175,869 |
| B2GOLD CORP. | ||
| --- | ||
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 | ||
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
The following is a continuity schedule of the Company's debt balances:
| New revolving credit facility | Old revolving credit facility | Equipment loans | Lease Liabilities | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | — | — | 23,974 | 33,254 | 57,228 |
| Revolving credit facility draw downs | — | 150,000 | — | — | 150,000 |
| Lease liabilities incurred | — | — | — | 5,457 | 5,457 |
| Lease liabilities terminated | — | — | — | (6,341) | (6,341) |
| Debt acquired as part of Sabina acquisition (Note 9) | — | — | 9,431 | 1,055 | 10,486 |
| Debt repayments | — | — | (13,301) | (6,224) | (19,525) |
| Foreign exchange losses | — | — | 410 | 330 | 740 |
| Reclass deferred financing costs from other assets | — | (8,311) | — | — | (8,311) |
| Non-cash interest and financing expense | — | 946 | 137 | 1,308 | 2,391 |
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | — | 142,635 | 20,651 | 28,839 | 192,125 |
| Draw downs | — | 450,000 | 7,779 | — | 457,779 |
| Debt repayments | — | (200,000) | (11,042) | (6,531) | (217,573) |
| Transfer outstanding balance to new revolving credit facility | 400,000 | (400,000) | — | — | — |
| Lease liabilities incurred | — | — | — | 8,343 | 8,343 |
| Lease liabilities terminated | — | — | — | (461) | (461) |
| Foreign exchange gains | — | — | (618) | (2,291) | (2,909) |
| Deferred financing costs incurred | (8,310) | — | — | — | (8,310) |
| Deferred financing costs written off | — | 3,766 | — | — | 3,766 |
| Non-cash interest and financing expense | — | 3,599 | 137 | 1,387 | 5,123 |
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | 391,690 | — | 16,907 | 29,286 | 437,883 |
| Current portion | — | — | (10,023) | (6,396) | (16,419) |
| 391,690 | — | 6,884 | 22,890 | 421,464 |
Revolving credit facilities
On December 17, 2024, the Company entered into a new revised revolving credit facility ("new RCF") agreement with a syndicate of banks. The maximum available for drawdown under the facility is $800 million with an accordion feature, available on the receipt of additional binding commitments, for a further $200 million.
Drawdowns on the new RCF can be in either United States or Canadian dollars. The new RCF bears interest on a sliding scale based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) or the Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average ("CORRA") plus term credit spread adjustment in addition to a sliding scale premium between 1.88% to 2.50% based on the Company's net leverage ratio. Commitment fees for the undrawn portion of the facility are also on a sliding scale basis between 0.42% and 0.563% based on the Company's net leverage ratio. The term of the new RCF is four years, maturing on December 17, 2028. Transaction costs on the new RCF of $8 million are amortized over the facility term.
The Company has provided security on the new RCF in the form of a general security interest over the Company’s assets and pledges creating a charge over the shares of certain of the Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries. In connection with the new RCF, the Company must also maintain an interest coverage ratio greater than or equal to 3:1 for any fiscal quarter and a leverage ratio of less than 3.5:1 for any fiscal quarter. As at December 31, 2024, the Company was in compliance with these debt covenants.
Pursuant to the terms of the new RCF, the Company implemented a gold collar hedging program structured to achieve a minimum cumulative financial settlement of $220 million relative to an assumed refined gold market price of $1,750 per ounce and 20% of the Company's forecasted production volumes for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 per the most recent life-of-mine plan consolidated projected gold production and shall maintain such gold hedging program (allowing, however, for the wind down of the program in the ordinary course) until the earlier of (i) the date such hedging program has achieved a minimum cumulative financial settlement of $220 million and December 31, 2026 (Note 17).
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
There were no drawdowns on the new RCF during the year end December 31, 2024 after transferring the $400 million outstanding balance on the old revolving credit facility ("old RCF"). As at December 31, 2024, the Company had $400 million available for future draw downs.
Upon entering into the new RCF, the Company transferred the $400 million outstanding balance from its old RCF. The old RCF bore interest on a sliding scale based on SOFR plus term credit spread adjustment in addition to a sliding scale premium between 2.00% to 2.50%. Commitment fees for the undrawn portion of the old RCF were between 0.450% and 0.563%. Unamortized transaction costs on the old RCF of $4 million were written off as financing expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Prior to transferring the outstanding balance to the new RCF, during the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company drew down $450 million and repaid $200 million on the old RCF.
Subsequent to December 31, 2024, the Company repaid the outstanding balance of $400 million on the new RCF.
Fekola equipment loan facilities
During 2016, the Company entered into a Euro 71 million term equipment facility (the "first equipment facility") with Caterpillar Financial SARL, as Mandated Lead Arranger, and Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, as original lender. The aggregate principal amount of up to Euro 71 million was available to the Company’s subsidiary, Fekola SA (the “Borrower”) to finance or refinance the mining fleet and other mining equipment at the Company's Fekola Mine in Mali and was fully utilized. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Borrower fully repaid the first equipment facility.
On September 29, 2020, the Company entered into a second term equipment facility (the "second equipment facility") with Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation for aggregate principal amount of up to the Euro equivalent of $40 million. The second equipment facility was available to the the Borrower to finance or refinance up to 75% of the cost of the mining fleet and other mining equipment at the Company's Fekola Mine in Mali. On October 26, 2020, the Borrower drew down the entire amount under the new equipment facility for proceeds of Euro 36 million.
On December 9, 2024, the Company entered into a third term equipment facility with Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation for aggregate principal amount of up to the Euro equivalent of $35 million. The third equipment facility is available to the the Borrower to finance or refinance a specified percentage of the cost of spare parts, mining fleet and other mining equipment at the Company's Fekola Mine in Mali. As at December 31, 2024, the Borrower has drawn down the $8 million under the third equipment facility. The Company has until December 31, 2025 to draw under this facility.
Each equipment loan under both facilities is repayable in 20 equal quarterly installments except for loans financing the cost of spare parts which are repayable in 16 equal installments. The final repayment date shall be five years or four years, respectively, from the first disbursement under each equipment loan. The interest rate on each loan is a rate per annum equal to the Euro Interbank Offer Rate ("EURIBOR") plus a margin of 4.25% for existing equipment and EURIBOR plus a margin of 3.25% for other loans. The Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Mali Mining Investments Limited, have guaranteed the second equipment facility and security is given over the equipment of the Borrower which has been financed by the second equipment facility, related warranty and insurance.
In connection with the Fekola equipment loan facilities, the Company must also maintain an interest coverage ratio greater than or equal to 3:1 for any fiscal quarter and a leverage ratio of less than 3.5:1 for any fiscal quarter. As at December 31, 2024, the Company was in compliance with these debt covenants.
Subsequent to December 31, 2024, on January 24, 2025, the Company drew down a further $3 million under the third Fekola term equipment facility.
Goose Project equipment loan facilities
As part of the acquisition of Sabina (Note 9), the Company acquired a series of equipment loans with two suppliers for open pit and underground mining equipment. The loans for the open pit mining equipment are denominated in US dollars, bear interest at a floating rate of 3-month SOFR plus 4.25% and have four year terms. The loans for the underground mining equipment are denominated in Canadian dollars, bear interest at fixed rates between 3.0% and 5.7% and have four year terms.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Lease liabilities
For the year ended December 31, 2024, payments totalling $9 million (2023 - $3 million) relating to short-term leases (those with a term of 12 months or less) and $55 million (2023 - $58 million) relating to variable lease payments (including both lease and non-lease components) have been expensed in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
The expected timing of undiscounted lease payments at December 31, 2024 for leases accounted for under IFRS 16 is as follows:
| $ | |
|---|---|
| Less than one year | 6,548 |
| One to five years | 16,257 |
| More than five years | 11,816 |
| 34,621 |
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized depreciation expense of $7 million (2023 - $6 million) on right-of-use assets recognized under IFRS 16, Leases in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and made payments on these leases of $7 million (2023 - $6 million).
Debt repayment schedule
The following table summarizes the Company’s scheduled debt repayments on its outstanding debt as at December 31, 2024:
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| New revolving credit facility | ||||||
| Principal | — | — | — | 400,000 | — | 400,000 |
| Interest & commitment fees (estimated) | 27,959 | 27,053 | 27,053 | 25,997 | — | 108,062 |
| Fekola equipment loan facilities: | ||||||
| Principal | 7,162 | 1,554 | 1,554 | 1,554 | 1,549 | 13,373 |
| Interest (estimated) | 608 | 373 | 277 | 181 | 84 | 1,523 |
| Goose equipment loan facility: | ||||||
| Principal | 2,917 | 672 | — | — | — | 3,589 |
| Interest (estimated) | 95 | 35 | — | — | — | 130 |
| Lease liabilities | ||||||
| Principal | 6,548 | 5,453 | 3,771 | 2,388 | 2,378 | 20,538 |
| 45,289 | 35,140 | 32,655 | 430,120 | 4,011 | 547,215 | |
| B2GOLD CORP. | ||||||
| --- | ||||||
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||||||
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 | ||||||
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Convertible senior unsecured notes
Subsequent to December 31, 2024, on January 28, 2025, the Company issued convertible senior unsecured notes (“the Notes”) with an aggregate principal amount of $460 million for cash proceeds of $447 million net of financing costs of $13 million. The notes bear interest at a rate of 2.75% per annum, payable semi-annually on February 1st and August 1st of each year commencing from August 1, 2025. The Notes mature on February 1, 2030. The initial conversion rate for the Notes is 315.2088 common shares of the Company per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $3.17 per share. The initial conversion rate is subject to adjustment in certain events. The Company has the right to redeem the Notes in certain circumstances and holders have the right to require the Company to repurchase their Notes upon the occurrence of certain events. The Notes are the Company's senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The Notes are effectively unsecured to all of the Company's existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. The Notes are structurally unsecured to all existing and future liabilities, including trade payables, of the Company's subsidiaries.
In connection with the notes, the Company entered into a cash settled total return swap with respect to approximately $50 million common shares of the Company with one of the initial purchasers of the Notes.
13Mine restoration provisions
The Company’s mine restoration provisions consist primarily of costs associated with mine reclamation and closure activities. These activities, which are site specific, generally include costs for earthworks, including detoxification and recontouring, revegetation, water treatment, demolition and removal of items from site where required. In calculating the present value of the Company’s mine restoration provisions as at December 31, 2024, management used a risk-free rate applicable to each location’s functional currency ranging from 4.55% to 4.62% and a long-term inflation rate of 2.3%. The undiscounted cash flows, before inflation adjustments to settle the mine restoration provisions were estimated at approximately $187 million at December 31, 2024 (2023 - $130 million). Due to the nature of mine closure plans, cash expenditures are expected to occur over a significant period of time with the majority of the expenditures expected to occur in the years from 2033 to 2039.
The following table shows the movement in the provision for mine restoration provisions:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Balance, beginning of year | 107,657 | 101,113 |
| Reclamation spending | (2,088) | (2,297) |
| Accretion expense | 4,305 | 4,011 |
| Change in obligation | 37,837 | (281) |
| Liabilities acquired | — | 5,111 |
| Balance, end of year | 147,711 | 107,657 |
| Less: current portion | (7,170) | (3,050) |
| 140,541 | 104,607 |
14Share capital
The Company’s authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of common shares and an unlimited number of preferred shares. As at December 31, 2024, the Company had 1,318,040,605 common shares outstanding. No preferred shares were outstanding.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share totalling $211 million for the year. Of this amount, $25 million was paid through the issuance of 9 million shares under the Company's Dividend Re-investment Plan ("DRIP"). During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share totalling $200 million for the year. Of this amount, $12 million was paid through the issuance of 4 million shares under the Company's DRIP. The dividends have been recognized in retained (deficit) earnings in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity during the respective period.
Subsequent to December 31, 2024, on February 19, 2025, B2Gold’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend for the first quarter of 2025 of $0.02 per common share, payable on March 20, 2025 to shareholders of record as of March 7, 2025.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company issued 3 million flow-through shares for cash proceeds of $10 million. The flow-through premium of $3 million was booked to Other Current Liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2024. In conjunction with the issuance of the flow-through shares, the Company has committed to spending Cdn. $15 million on eligible exploration expenditures in Canada by December 31, 2025.
During 2024, the Company received $3 million (2023 - $13 million) pursuant to the exercise of 1 million (2023 – 5 million) stock options.
Stock options
During the year ended December 31, 2024, 22 million stock options were granted to employees with exercise prices ranging from Cdn. $3.48 to Cdn. $4.40 per share. These stock options have a term of up to five years and vest over a period of up to three years. The estimated fair value when granted of these options totalling $11 million is being recognized over the vesting period. The fair value was calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on a risk-free annual interest rate of up to 3.8%, an expected life of up to 3 years, an expected volatility of up to 38% and a dividend yield rate of up to 6.2%.
During 2023, approximately 3 million stock options were granted to employees and directors with exercise prices ranging from Cdn. $4.11 to Cdn. $5.40 per share. These stock options have a term of up to five years and vest over a period of up to three years. The estimated fair value when granted of these options totalling $3 million is being recognized over the vesting period. The fair value was calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on a risk-free annual interest rate of up to 4.4%, an expected life of up to 3 years, an expected volatility of up to 50% and a dividend yield rate of up to 5.3%.
On April 19, 2023, the Company issued 3 million B2Gold replacement stock options upon the acquisition of Sabina. The replacement stock options were valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on a risk-free annual interest rates ranging from 3.6% to 3.8%, an expected volatility of between 33% and 50%, an expected average life of up to 3.2 years and a dividend yield of 3.7%.
Option pricing models require the input of subjective assumptions regarding the expected volatility. The Company calculates expected volatility based on the historical volatility of its stock price. Changes in this assumption can materially affect the fair value estimate.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, share-based payments expense, relating to the vesting of stock options, was $5 million (2023 - $5 million), net of $1 million (2023 - $1 million) capitalized to mining interests.
A summary of changes to stock options outstanding is as follows:
| Number of<br>outstanding<br>options | Weighted-<br>average<br>exercise price | |
|---|---|---|
| (‘000’s) | (in Cdn.$) | |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2022 | 30,927 | 4.98 |
| Granted | 3,042 | 4.80 |
| B2Gold replacement options on acquisition of Sabina (Note 9) | 3,342 | 3.87 |
| Exercised | (5,098) | 3.42 |
| Forfeited or expired | (1,246) | 5.28 |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2023 | 30,967 | 5.09 |
| Granted | 22,064 | 3.71 |
| Exercised | (1,247) | 3.39 |
| Forfeited or expired | (1,579) | 5.01 |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2024 | 50,205 | 4.53 |
During 2024, 1 million (2023 – 5 million) stock options were exercised. The weighted average share price at the time of exercise was Cdn. $4.09 (2023 – Cdn. $4.86).
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Stock options outstanding and exercisable as at December 31, 2024 are as follows:
| Range of exercise prices<br>(in Cdn. $) | Number of outstanding options<br>(‘000’s) | Weighted- average years to expiry | Weighted-average exercise price<br>(in Cdn. $) | Number of exercisable options<br>(‘000’s) | Weighted-average exercise price<br>(in Cdn. $) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.95 – 2.99 | 15 | 2.39 | 2.95 | 4 | 2.95 |
| 3.00 – 3.99 | 22,210 | 4.90 | 3.67 | 7,165 | 3.64 |
| 4.00 – 4.99 | 7,463 | 3.55 | 4.45 | 4,715 | 4.44 |
| 5.00 – 5.99 | 18,401 | 2.01 | 5.39 | 16,646 | 5.40 |
| 6.00 – 6.99 | 1,996 | 1.31 | 6.25 | 1,887 | 6.25 |
| 7.00 – 8.53 | 120 | 0.56 | 8.01 | 120 | 8.01 |
| 50,205 | 3.49 | 4.53 | 30,537 | 4.90 |
Restricted share unit plan
The Company has a Restricted Share Unit Plan (the “RSU Plan”) whereby restricted share units (“RSUs”) may be granted to directors, executive officers and employees of the Company. Once vested, each RSU is redeemable for one common share entitling the holder to receive the common share for no additional consideration.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company granted approximately 2 million (2023 – 2 million) RSUs to executive officers and employees of the Company. One-third of the RSUs vest one year from the grant date, another one-third will vest two years from the grant date with the remainder vesting three years from the grant date. The total estimated fair value of the RSU granted was approximately $6 million (2023 - $7 million) based on the market value of the Company’s shares at the grant date. The fair value of each RSU is recorded as a share-based payments expense over the vesting period.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, share-based payments expense relating to the vesting of RSUs was $7 million (2023 - $7 million).
Summary of changes to RSUs outstanding:
| Number of<br>outstanding<br>RSUs | |
|---|---|
| (‘000’s) | |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2022 | 2,784 |
| Granted | 1,939 |
| Vested and converted to common shares | (1,440) |
| Forfeited | (119) |
| Reinvested dividend equivalents | 158 |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2023 | 3,322 |
| Granted | 2,382 |
| Vested and converted to common shares | (1,625) |
| Reinvested dividend equivalents | 277 |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2024 | 4,356 |
Deferred share unit plan
The Company has a Deferred Share Unit plan (the "DSU plan") for the benefit of the directors of the Company. Pursuant to the plan, eligible directors can elect to receive all or part of their total cash compensation in the form of deferred share units ("DSUs"). The number of DSUs granted to an eligible director is determined by dividing the portion of the compensation to be paid in DSUs by the volume weighted average trading price of the common shares on the stock exchange on which the majority of the volume of trading of the shares occurred over the relevant period for the five trading days immediately preceding the date of grant. In addition, the Board may, at its discretion, grant additional DSUs to plan participants. Each eligible director is required to hold DSUs received until the eligible director ceases to be a director of the Company, following which the DSUs will be settled in cash. As the DSUs are cash settled, they are recorded as a liability at fair market value on the Consolidated Balance Sheet with changes in the fair value being recognized as a share-based payment expense or recovery in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company issued 0.5 million DSUs (2023 - 0.4 million) with a fair market value of $1 million (2023 - $1 million) to directors of the Company. During the year ended December 31, 2024, 0.1 million (2023 - 0.7 million) DSUs valued at $0.3 million (2023 - $3 million) were released. As at December 31, 2024, there were 2.2 million DSUs outstanding (2023 - 1.6 million). For the year ended December 31, 2024, share-based payments expense relating to DSUs was $0.1 million (2023 - expense of $0.8 million).
Performance share unit plan
The Company has a Performance Share Unit plan (the "PSU plan") for the benefit of officers, employees and eligible consultants. Under the plan, eligible participants will receive shares based on the achievement of certain defined performance measures over a defined period of time. The number of shares receivable shall be 0% to 200% of the performance share units ("PSUs") awarded, with the factor applied being dependent on the extent to which the defined performance measures have been achieved.
On November 7, 2023, the Company adopted an amended and restated Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Clawback Policy (the “Clawback Policy”) to comply with new rules of the New York Stock Exchange American set forth in Listed Company Manual Section 811 -- Erroneously Awarded Compensation and Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, as codified by Section 10D and Rule 10D-1 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, the Company amended its Performance Share Unit Plan on November 7, 2023 (the “Amended PSU Plan”) to add an option to settle future PSU grants, when vested, in cash (instead of shares) at the Company’s sole discretion. The addition of the cash settlement option does not impact the accounting treatment of the PSUs.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company granted 3 million PSUs to employees comprised of two equal 50% tranches. Vesting of tranche one of the PSUs granted will depend on the growth of the consolidated production profile and the number of shares that may vest will be between 0% to 200% of the number of tranche one PSUs. The estimated fair value when granted of this portion of $3 million was calculated based on the fair value of the Company's stock on the date of the grant and the expected increase in the production profile. Vesting of tranche two of the PSUs granted will depend on total shareholder return of the Company compared to a group of peer companies over the period January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026. The number of shares that may vest will be between 0% and 200% of the number of tranche two PSUs. The estimated fair value when granted of the tranche two PSUs of $3 million was calculated using a risk-neutral Monte Carlo simulation based on a correlated Geometric Brownian Motion. The model used historical share price volatility ranging from 26% to 66% for the group, a Canadian risk-free annual interest rate of 4.19%, and a United States risk-free annual interest rate of 4.52%. The fair value of both tranches is being recognized over the vesting period.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company granted 2 million PSUs to employees comprised of two equal 50% tranches. Vesting of tranche one of the PSUs granted will depend on the timing of completion of construction and commissioning of the Goose Project and the number of shares that may vest will be between 0% to 200% of the number of tranche one PSUs. The estimated fair value when granted of this portion of $3 million was calculated based on the fair value of the Company's stock on the date of the grant and the expected completion timing of the Goose Project. Vesting of tranche two of the PSUs granted will depend on total shareholder return of the Company compared to a group of peer companies over the period January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025. The number of shares that may vest will be between 0% and 200% of the number of tranche two PSUs. The estimated fair value when granted of the tranche two PSUs of $4 million was calculated using a risk-neutral Monte Carlo simulation based on a correlated Geometric Brownian Motion. The model used historical share price volatility ranging from 28% to 71% for the group, a Canadian risk-free annual interest rate of 3.87%, and a United States risk-free annual interest rate of 4.16%. The fair value of both tranches is being recognized over the vesting period.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company issued 1 million shares (2023 - 1 million shares) on the vesting of PSUs. As at December 31, 2024, 6 million PSUs were outstanding under the plan (2023 - 5 million). For the year ended December 31, 2024, share-based payments expense relating to PSUs was $8 million (2023 - $8 million).
Incentive plan
On June 29, 2007, the Company established the B2Gold Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) for the benefit of directors, officers, employees and service providers of the Company and issued to the trustees of the Incentive Plan options to acquire 5 million common shares. On October 12, 2007, following the exercise of these options, an aggregate of 5 million common shares were issued to and paid for by the trustees of the Incentive Plan. These shares were held in trust (the "trust") by the trustees pursuant to the terms of the Incentive Plan. The Company is required under IFRS to consolidate the trust. The Company recognizes a share-based compensation expense with respect to these incentive shares, when these shares are
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
granted to the ultimate beneficiaries by the trust. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognised a share based payment expense of $5 million upon issuance of the remaining 1,705,000 shares from the trust. As at December 31, 2024, there are no common shares remaining in the trust.
Earnings per share
The following is the calculation basic and diluted earnings per share:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Net (loss) income and diluted net (loss) income (attributable to shareholders of the Company) | (629,891) | 10,097 |
| Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands) | 1,308,850 | 1,232,092 |
| Effect of dilutive securities: | ||
| Stock options | — | 1,099 |
| Restricted share units | — | 755 |
| Performance share units | — | 3,458 |
| Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands) | 1,308,850 | 1,237,404 |
| (Loss) earnings per share (attributable to shareholders of the Company) | ||
| Basic | ||
| Diluted |
All values are in US Dollars.
15Non-controlling interest
The following is a continuity schedule of the Company's non-controlling interests:
| Fekola | Masbate | Otjikoto | Other | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | 54,187 | 22,220 | 25,079 | 2,177 | 103,663 |
| Share of net income (loss) | 17,146 | 5,824 | 8,799 | (278) | 31,491 |
| Interest on loan to non-controlling interest | (4,174) | — | — | — | (4,174) |
| Distributions to non-controlling interest | (24,248) | (300) | (10,068) | — | (34,616) |
| Participating funding from non-controlling interest | — | — | — | 2,332 | 2,332 |
| Other | — | — | 428 | 472 | 900 |
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | 42,911 | 27,744 | 24,238 | 4,703 | 99,596 |
| Share of net (loss) income | (7,387) | (1,672) | 12,478 | (181) | 3,238 |
| Forgiveness of loan to non-controlling interest (Note 9) | 65,476 | — | — | — | 65,476 |
| Distributions to non-controlling interest | (106,826) | — | (15,743) | — | (122,569) |
| Interest on loan to non-controlling interest | (2,381) | — | — | — | (2,381) |
| Participating funding from non-controlling interest | — | — | — | 936 | 936 |
| Other | 8,207 | — | — | 129 | 8,336 |
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | — | 26,072 | 20,973 | 5,587 | 52,632 |
| B2GOLD CORP. | |||||
| --- | |||||
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | |||||
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 | |||||
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
The following is the summarized financial information of subsidiaries with material non-controlling interests:
| Fekola | Otjikoto | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Summarized Balance Sheets | ||||
| Current assets | 219,744 | 265,468 | 102,335 | 89,575 |
| Non-current assets | 1,051,228 | 979,116 | 222,834 | 297,950 |
| Total assets | 1,270,972 | 1,244,584 | 325,169 | 387,525 |
| Current liabilities | 371,962 | 174,643 | 43,131 | 43,623 |
| Non-current liabilities | 73,284 | 70,119 | 85,229 | 114,633 |
| Total liabilities | 445,246 | 244,762 | 128,360 | 158,256 |
| Summarized Statements of Operations | ||||
| Revenue | 951,675 | 1,143,780 | 486,213 | 417,589 |
| Net (loss) income | (59,546) | 147,584 | 126,889 | 87,599 |
16Other operating expense
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Malian regulatory settlement (Note 9) | (16,795) | — |
| Non-capital exploration | (8,029) | (3,461) |
| Other | (4,280) | (4,700) |
| (29,104) | (8,161) |
17Derivative financial instruments
Fuel derivatives
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company entered into additional series of forward contracts for the purchase of 62 million litres of gas oil and 63 million litres of fuel oil with scheduled settlement between August 2024 and July 2026. These derivative instruments were not designated as hedges by the Company and are recorded at FVTPL.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded an unrealized fuel derivative loss of $3 million (2023 – loss of $4 million) and a realized fuel derivative loss of $0 million (2023 - gain of $9 million) in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
The following is a summary, by maturity dates, of the Company’s fuel derivative contracts outstanding as at December 31, 2024:
| 2025 | 2026 | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward – fuel oil: | ||||||
| Litres (thousands) | 35,027 | 14,447 | 49,474 | |||
| Average strike price | $ | 0.44 | $ | 0.42 | $ | 0.43 |
| Forward – gas oil: | ||||||
| Litres (thousands) | 36,216 | 8,189 | 44,405 | |||
| Average strike price | $ | 0.60 | $ | 0.59 | $ | 0.60 |
The unrealized fair value of these contracts at December 31, 2024 was $(2) million.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Gold derivatives
During the year ended December 31, 2024, as a requirement of the new RCF (Note 12), the Company entered into a series of 1:1 zero-cost put/call gold collar contracts with settlement between February 2025 and January 2027. These derivative instruments were not designated as hedges by the Company and are recorded at FVTPL.
The following is a summary, by maturity dates, of the Company’s gold derivative contracts outstanding as at December 31, 2024:
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ounces | 187,010 | 200,006 | 16,637 | 403,653 | ||||
| Average floor price | $ | 2,450 | $ | 2,450 | $ | 2,450 | $ | 2,450 |
| Average ceiling price | $ | 3,294 | $ | 3,294 | $ | 3,294 | $ | 3,294 |
The unrealized fair value of these contracts at December 31, 2024 was $0 million.
18Gold stream obligation
As part of the acquisition of Sabina (Note 9), the Company acquired a Gold Stream Arrangement (the "Stream") with Wheaton Precious Metals ("WPM"). WPM is obligated to pay the Company a purchase price for each ounce of refined gold metal equal to:
•During any period during which the remaining upfront funding initially received by Sabina from WPM is greater than nil, 18% of the p.m. London Bullion Market Association ("LBMA") Gold Price. The difference between the LBMA gold price and such purchase price being payable is deducted against the upfront funding until it has been reduced to nil.
•Once the remaining upfront funding has fully been reduced to nil, 22% of the p.m. LBMA Gold Price.
The acquisition of Sabina triggered a one-time change of control event that allowed the Company to exercise a one-time option to buy back one third of the Stream (the “Buy-back Option”) for consideration of $46 million, which the Company exercised on April 20, 2023. As a result of the exercise of the Buy-back Option, the quantity of gold deliverable to WPM under the Gold Stream is reduced by 33% as follows:
•2.7805% of gold production up to delivery of 87,100 oz
•1.4405% of gold production up to an aggregate of 134,000 oz
•1.005% of gold production thereafter.
The gold stream obligation was determined to be a derivative liability under IFRS 9, Financial instruments, and has been classified as FVTPL. As a result, it has been recorded at its fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheet with changes in the fair value being recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The fair value of the gold stream was determined to be level 3 in the fair value hierarchy (Note 20). The Company has guaranteed the remaining portion of the gold stream obligation.
The following is a summary of the changes in the gold stream obligation:
| $ | |
|---|---|
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | — |
| Fair value at acquisition (Note 9) | 173,700 |
| Exercise of buy-back option | (46,400) |
| Change in fair value | 12,300 |
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | 139,600 |
| Change in fair value | 26,825 |
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | 166,425 |
| Less current portion | (6,900) |
| 159,525 | |
| B2GOLD CORP. | |
| --- | |
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 | |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
19Prepaid gold sales
On January 23, 2024, the Company entered into a series of prepaid gold sales with a number of its old RCF syndicate banks. Under the terms of the prepaid gold sales, the Company received an upfront payment of $500 million, based on gold forward curve prices averaging approximately $2,191 per ounce, in exchange for equal monthly deliveries of gold from July 2025 to June 2026 totaling 264,768 ounces. Gold deliveries can be from production from any of the Company’s operating mines and the prepaid gold sales can be settled prior to maturity through accelerated delivery of the remaining deliverable gold ounces.
The prepaid gold sales have been accounted for in accordance with IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, whereby the cash prepayments have been recognized as deferred revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and will be recognized as revenue in the Consolidated Statement of Operations based on the contract price when gold deliveries are made.
The following is a summary of the changes in the prepaid gold sales:
| $ | |
|---|---|
| Outstanding at December 31, 2023 | — |
| Value of contracts added | 500,023 |
| Accretion | 38,087 |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2024 | 538,110 |
| Less current portion | (272,781) |
| 265,329 |
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized interest charge of $38 million, based on an implicit rate of 7.99%, relating to the financing component contained in the prepaid gold sales. The interest expense recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $14 million net of $24 million capitalized to the cost of constructing qualifying assets during the year.
20Financial instruments
The Company’s financial assets and liabilities consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, short-term investments, reclamation deposits, loan to associate, long-term investments, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, fuel derivative contracts, gold derivative contracts, gold stream obligation, and long-term debt.
Fair values
The Company’s financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input significant to the fair value measurement based on the fair value hierarchy:
Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2 – inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices); and
Level 3 – inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data.
As at December 31, 2024, the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value are categorized as follows:
| As at December 31, 2024 | As at December 31, 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Long-term investments (Note 8) | 76,717 | — | — | 86,007 | — | — |
| Short-term investments (Note 6) | 11,565 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fuel derivative contracts (Note 17) | — | (2,259) | — | — | 481 | — |
| Gold derivative contracts (Note 17) | — | 111 | — | — | — | — |
| Gold stream obligation (Note 18) | — | — | (166,425) | — | — | (139,600) |
| B2GOLD CORP. | ||||||
| --- | ||||||
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||||||
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 | ||||||
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
The Company’s long-term investments consist of shares of publicly traded mining companies. The fair values of these were determined using market quotes from an active market for each investment.
The fair value of the Company's fuel and gold derivative contracts was determined using prevailing market rates for instruments with similar characteristics.
The fair value of the gold stream was calculated based on an income approach and a discounted cash flow model. The calculated fair value includes significant assumptions that are based on observable market data, including forward gold price curves and credit adjusted risk-free rates. The fair value also includes significant assumptions that are not based on observable market data, including the timing of future gold deliveries which are based on the future production levels of the Goose Project. The valuation has been prepared by an independent valuations specialist with direct oversight from the Company. Gold production is assumed to begin in the second quarter of 2025. Forward gold price estimates ranged from $2,611 to $3,395 per ounce. A $100 per ounce change in the gold forward price would have approximately a $5 million impact on the fair value of the gold stream obligation at December 31, 2024. A 50 basis point change in the credit adjusted risk-free rate would also have approximately a $5 million impact on the fair value of the gold stream obligation at December 31, 2024.
The fair value of the Company's long-term debt also approximates its carrying value as it has a floating interest rate and the Company's credit spread has remained approximately consistent. The fair value of the Company's other financial instruments approximate their carrying value due to their short-term nature.
Capital risk management
The Company’s objectives when managing its capital is to ensure it will be able to continue as a going concern while maximizing the return to shareholders including the payment of dividends. The selling price of gold and minimizing production costs and capital expenditures are key factors in helping the Company reach its capital risk management objectives. The capital structure of the Company includes shareholders’ equity and debt.
Credit risk
As at December 31, 2024, the Company’s maximum exposure to credit risk was the book value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, loans receivable and the carrying value of its derivative portfolio. The Company limits its credit exposure on cash and cash equivalents by holding its deposits mainly with high credit quality financial institutions as determined by credit rating agencies.
The Company maintains its excess cash balances in short-term investments accounts. The Company does not maintain insurance for its cash balances.
Liquidity risk
The Company manages its liquidity risk through its budgeting and forecasting process. Budgets are prepared annually and forecasts are prepared and reviewed on a regular basis, to help determine the funding requirements to support the Company’s current operations and expansion and development plans and by managing its capital structure as described above.
As at December 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $337 million. Cash provided by operating activities totalled $878 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, including proceeds of $500 million from the prepaid gold sales. As at December 31, 2024, the Company had a $800 million revolving credit facility of which $400 million is undrawn.
As at December 31, 2024, the Company had drawn down the full amount under its equipment loan facilities at the Goose Project but had $27 million available under its third equipment facility at Fekola.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
As at December 31, 2024, the Company’s significant commitments are disclosed in the table below. In addition, significant commitments are disclosed in Note 12 for debt repayments and Note 26 for capital expenditure commitments.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 156,352 | — | — | — | — | 156,352 |
| New revolving credit facility: | ||||||
| Principal (Note 12) | — | — | — | 400,000 | — | 400,000 |
| Interest & commitment fees (estimated) | 27,959 | 27,053 | 27,053 | 25,997 | — | 108,062 |
| Fekola equipment loan facilities: | ||||||
| Principal | 7,162 | 1,554 | 1,554 | 1,554 | 1,549 | 13,373 |
| Interest (estimated) | 608 | 373 | 277 | 181 | 84 | 1,523 |
| Goose equipment loan facility: | ||||||
| Principal | 2,917 | 672 | — | — | — | 3,589 |
| Interest (estimated) | 95 | 35 | — | — | — | 130 |
| Lease liabilities | ||||||
| Principal | 6,548 | 5,453 | 3,771 | 2,388 | 2,378 | 20,538 |
| 201,641 | 35,140 | 32,655 | 430,120 | 4,011 | 703,567 | |
| Capital expenditure commitments | 38,148 | — | — | — | — | 38,148 |
| Other liabilities | 1,947 | 5,997 | — | 5,207 | 5,311 | 18,462 |
| 241,736 | 41,137 | 32,655 | 435,327 | 9,322 | 760,177 |
Market risk
Market risk includes currency and price risk.
The Company’s operations in foreign countries are subject to currency fluctuations and such fluctuations may materially affect the Company’s financial position and results. The Company reports its financial results in United States dollars and incurs expenses in European euros, CFA francs, Namibian dollars, South African rand, Philippine pesos, Canadian dollars and Colombian pesos. As these exchange rates fluctuate against the United States dollar, the Company will experience foreign exchange gains and losses.
The Company also holds cash and cash equivalents that are denominated in non-United States dollar currencies which are subject to currency risk. As at December 31, 2024, $233 million of the Company’s $337 million in cash and cash equivalents was held in United States dollars. A 10% movement in foreign exchange rates versus the United States dollar would result in approximately a $9 million change in the Company’s cash position.
The Company maintains a portfolio of shares in publicly traded companies that are measured at FVOCI.
The Company maintains a portfolio of fuel and gold derivatives that are measured at FVTPL. A 10% change in the forward price of fuel would result in a $4 million change in the value of the fuel derivative portfolio. A 10% change in the forward price of gold would result in a $13 million change in the value of the gold derivative portfolio excluding the impact on the Company's gold stream obligation (Note 18).
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
21Income and other taxes
Income tax expense differs from the amount that would result from applying the Canadian federal and provincial income tax rates to earnings from operations before taxes. These differences result from the following items:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| (Loss) income from operations before taxes | (309,224) | 320,333 |
| Canadian federal and provincial income tax rates | 27.00 | 27.00 |
| Income tax expense at statutory rates | (83,490) | 86,490 |
| Increase (decrease) attributable to: | ||
| Benefit not recorded on impairment losses | 227,498 | 93,772 |
| Change in accruals for tax audits and settlement of income tax and customs assessments (Note 9) | 67,352 | (951) |
| Effects of different foreign statutory tax rates | 40,141 | 18,054 |
| Change due to foreign exchange | 29,894 | (11,430) |
| Withholding and other taxes | 29,423 | 26,956 |
| Losses and tax bases for which no tax benefit has been recorded | 26,479 | 18,707 |
| Benefit of optional tax incentives | (21,625) | (13,281) |
| Non-deductible expenditures | 11,340 | 32,029 |
| Change in income tax rates | (8,884) | — |
| Future withholding tax | (2,699) | 29,548 |
| Change in non-taxable portions of gains | 807 | (2,345) |
| Amounts under provided for in prior years | 1,193 | 1,196 |
| Income tax expense | 317,429 | 278,745 |
| Current income tax, withholding and other taxes | 319,726 | 290,081 |
| Deferred income tax recovery | (2,297) | (11,336) |
| Income tax expense | 317,429 | 278,745 |
All values are in US Dollars.
Included in current income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2024, is $26 million (2023 - $36 million), related to the State of Mali's 20% (2023 - 10%, see Note 9) priority dividend on its free carried interest in the Fekola Mine. This priority dividend is accounted for as an income tax in accordance with IAS 12, Income Taxes.
Total provision for tax disputes recognized are as follows:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Opening balance | 10,799 | 12,950 |
| Additions | — | 49 |
| Reductions | (10,799) | (2,200) |
| Closing balance | — | 10,799 |
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded a deferred tax recovery of $3 million (2023 - expense of $30 million) related to future withholding tax expected to be incurred on retained earnings the Company is planning to repatriate from its foreign subsidiaries in the foreseeable future. The Company's foreign subsidiaries continue to accumulate earnings in excess of their expected needs for reinvestment. The deferred tax expense will eventually be a current tax expense as dividends from foreign subsidiaries and the associated withholding taxes are paid.
Deferred tax liabilities of approximately $134 million (2023 – $116 million) have not been recognized on the repatriation of earnings from foreign subsidiaries where the Company controls the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences but it is probable that such differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Total income tax expense attributable to geographical jurisdiction is as follows:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Mali | 176,094 | 186,258 |
| Philippines | 55,838 | 32,658 |
| Namibia | 85,828 | 67,852 |
| Other | (331) | (8,023) |
| 317,429 | 278,745 |
The composition of the Company’s net deferred income tax (liabilities) assets and deferred tax expense (recovery) is as follows:
| Deferred tax<br>(liabilities)/assets | Deferred income tax expense/(recovery) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As at December 31, 2024 | As at December 31, 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Operating loss carry-forwards | 2,033 | 9,312 | 7,279 | 12,807 |
| Current assets and liabilities | (5,304) | (1,442) | 3,862 | (5,588) |
| Mining interests | (150,161) | (152,406) | (2,245) | (54,727) |
| Mine restoration provisions | 15,413 | 14,504 | (909) | 10,118 |
| Future withholding tax | (35,849) | (38,548) | (2,699) | 29,548 |
| Unrealized gains | — | (10,127) | (10,127) | 2,617 |
| Deferred tax charged to equity | — | — | (856) | — |
| Other | 4,130 | 7,528 | 3,398 | (6,111) |
| (169,738) | (171,179) | (2,297) | (11,336) |
Represented on the balance sheet as:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Deferred tax asset | — | (16,927) |
| Deferred tax liability | 169,738 | 188,106 |
| Balance, end of year | 169,738 | 171,179 |
The Company has the following unrecognized deferred tax assets:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Capital and non-capital tax losses | 175,765 | 230,933 |
| Mining interests and other | 153,892 | 35,190 |
| Mine restoration provisions | 10,423 | 8,984 |
| Long-term debt | 2,401 | 2,775 |
| Current assets | 868 | 1,043 |
| 343,349 | 278,925 |
The Company has not recognized potential deferred tax assets of $343 million (2023 - $279 million) as it is not probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the Company can utilize the potential deferred tax assets.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
The change for the year in the Company’s net deferred tax liability was as follows:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Balance, beginning of year | 171,179 | 182,515 |
| Deferred income tax recovery charged to statement of operations | (2,297) | (11,336) |
| Deferred income tax expense charged to equity | 856 | — |
| Balance, end of year | 169,738 | 171,179 |
At December 31, 2024, the Company had non-capital tax losses which are not recognized as deferred tax assets. The Company recognizes the tax benefit of the non-capital tax losses only to the extent of anticipated future taxable income that can be reduced by non-capital tax losses. The gross amount of the non-capital tax losses for which a tax benefit has not been recorded are $577 million (2023 - $637 million) in Canada which expire between 2027 and 2044, and $110 million (2023 - $124 million) in Colombia of which $1 million expires between 2030 and 2035 and $108 million does not expire.
At December 31, 2024 the Company had capital losses in Canada of $9 million which have no expiry date and can be applied against future capital gains. No deferred income tax asset has been recorded with respect to these losses. On March 4, 2024, the Company received Notices of Reassessment relating to the denial of capital losses realized by B2Gold in respect of certain internal reorganizations undertaken in the 2016 taxation year. The reassessments do not result in any income taxes payable but would reduce the Company's net capital loss carry-forward balances and non-capital loss carry-forward balances (due to the deduction of a portion of the capital losses in subsequent taxation years). The Company has disputed the reassessments. Should the Company be successful in its dispute, non-capital losses would increase by $71 million and capital losses would increase by $295 million for which no deferred tax asset has been recognized as at December 31, 2024.
During the year ended December 31, 2024 the Company paid $360 million (2023 - $239 million) of current income tax, withholding and other taxes in cash.
Pillar Two Global Minimum Tax
In June 2024, Canada enacted the Global Minimum Tax Act that was developed within the framework of the OECD’s Pillar Two global minimum tax regime, effective January 1, 2024. As Pillar Two legislation has been enacted or substantively enacted in certain jurisdictions in which the Company operates, the legislation is effective for the Company's financial year beginning January 1, 2024.
The Company has performed an assessment of its potential exposure to Pillar Two income taxes. This assessment is based on the most recent information available regarding the financial performance of the constituent entities of the consolidated group. Based on the assessment performed, the Company does not expect any material exposure to Pillar Two top-up taxes.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
22Supplementary cash flow information
Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information is provided in the table below:
Non-cash (credits) charges:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Depreciation and depletion | 367,408 | 402,371 |
| Impairment of long-lived assets (Note 9) | 876,376 | 322,148 |
| Gain on sale of mining interests (Note 9) | (56,115) | — |
| Deferred income tax recovery (Note 21) | (2,297) | (11,336) |
| Change in fair value of gold stream (Note 18) | 26,825 | 12,300 |
| Non-cash interest and financing expense | 34,848 | 13,925 |
| Gain on sale of shares in associate (Note 10) | (16,822) | — |
| Share-based payments (Note 14) | 24,343 | 18,174 |
| Loss on dilution of associate (Note 10) | 8,984 | 943 |
| Non-recoverable input taxes | 9,684 | 2,198 |
| Share of net income of associates (Note 10) | (2,630) | (19,871) |
| Unrealized losses on derivative instruments (Note 17) | 2,630 | 4,500 |
| Write-down of mining interests (Note 9) | 636 | 19,905 |
| Restructuring charges (Note 9) | — | 12,151 |
| Other | 15,234 | 25,169 |
| 1,289,104 | 802,577 |
Changes in non-cash working capital:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Accounts receivable and prepaids | (215) | 147 |
| Value-added and other tax receivables | (2,204) | (10,634) |
| Inventories | (130,339) | (24,331) |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (1,237) | (21,378) |
| Current income and other taxes payable | (21,184) | 49,658 |
| (155,179) | (6,538) |
Other exploration:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Fekola Mine, exploration | (4,428) | (3,728) |
| Masbate Mine, exploration | (3,649) | (3,808) |
| Otjikoto Mine, exploration | (7,825) | (3,863) |
| Goose Project, exploration | (28,864) | (10,595) |
| Finland Properties, exploration | (3,079) | (7,181) |
| Bakolobi Property, exploration | (344) | (8,665) |
| Dandoko Property, exploration | (1,279) | (6,097) |
| George Property, exploration | (9) | (5,131) |
| Menankoto Property, exploration | (805) | (12,262) |
| Bantako North Property, exploration | — | (9,523) |
| Other | (2,347) | (5,152) |
| (52,629) | (76,005) | |
| B2GOLD CORP. | ||
| --- | ||
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 | ||
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Share consideration received on sale of mining interests (Notes 9 and 10) | 81,433 | — |
| Interest capitalized to construction of qualifying assets | 30,008 | — |
| Change in current liabilities relating to mining interest expenditures | (8,625) | 29,257 |
| Change in current liabilities relating to deferred financing costs | 4,059 | — |
| Interest on loan to non-controlling interest | 2,801 | 4,910 |
| Share-based payments, capitalized to mining interests | 1,129 | 694 |
| Foreign exchange gains (losses) on Fekola equipment loan facility | 545 | (411) |
| Common shares issued on acquisition of Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. (Note 9) | — | 925,375 |
| Fair value of B2Gold replacement options issued on acquisition of Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. (Note 9) | — | 5,075 |
| Contingent consideration on purchase of Gramalote Property (Note 9) | — | 14,297 |
23Compensation of key management
Key management includes the Company’s directors, members of the Executive Committee and members of Senior Management. Compensation to key management consisted of:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Salaries and short-term employee benefits | 7,408 | 8,480 |
| Share-based payments | 13,793 | 14,692 |
| 21,201 | 23,172 |
24Production costs by nature
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Raw materials and consumables | 491,855 | 488,965 |
| Salaries and employee benefits | 134,938 | 128,090 |
| Contractors | 92,225 | 90,488 |
| Equipment rental | 1,949 | 2,786 |
| Other | 49,807 | 52,286 |
| Change in inventories | 4,444 | (6,272) |
| Capitalized to mining interests | (93,390) | (140,146) |
| 681,828 | 616,197 |
Salaries and employee benefits expense included in general and administrative costs were $29 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 (2023 - $28 million).
25Segmented information
The Company’s reportable operating segments for 2024 include its mining operations and development projects, namely the Fekola, Masbate and Otjikoto mines and the Goose Project. It also includes the Fekola Regional properties which are in the exploration & evaluation stage. The Fekola Regional segment includes the Bantako North, Menankoto, Dandoko and Bakolobi properties. The Other Mineral Properties segment consists of the Company’s interests in mineral properties which are at various stages of exploration and evaluation, including the Company's interest in the Gramalote Project, as well as the Company's equity accounting for its investment in it's associates Versamet and BeMetals. The “Corporate and Other” segment includes corporate operations.
| B2GOLD CORP. |
|---|
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 |
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
The Company’s segments are summarized in the following tables:
| 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br>Mine | Fekola Regional | Masbate <br>Mine | Otjikoto<br>Mine | Goose Project | Other<br>Mineral<br>Properties | Corporate<br><br>& Other | Total | |||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
| External gold revenue | 951,676 | — | 464,141 | 486,213 | — | — | — | 1,902,030 | ||||||||||
| Production costs | 384,221 | — | 161,462 | 136,145 | — | — | — | 681,828 | ||||||||||
| Depreciation & depletion | 162,011 | 1,986 | 83,352 | 116,289 | 3,770 | — | 2,153 | 369,561 | ||||||||||
| Impairment of long-lived assets | 162,673 | 52,543 | — | — | 661,160 | — | — | 876,376 | ||||||||||
| Write-down of mining interests | — | — | — | — | — | 636 | — | 636 | ||||||||||
| Current income tax, withholding and other taxes | 154,415 | 46 | 55,840 | 109,282 | 48 | — | 95 | 319,726 | ||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | (76,859) | (68,728) | 112,930 | 122,454 | (663,781) | (1,827) | (50,842) | (626,653) | ||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | 262,204 | 19,289 | 33,412 | 36,667 | 544,255 | 22,568 | 1,308 | 919,703 | ||||||||||
| Total assets | 1,368,733 | 187,484 | 769,617 | 355,551 | 1,607,392 | 328,717 | 196,504 | 4,813,998 | 2023 | |||||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||||
| Fekola<br>Mine | Fekola Regional | Masbate <br>Mine | Otjikoto<br>Mine | Goose Project | Other<br>Mineral<br>Properties | Corporate & Other | Total | |||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
| External gold revenue | 1,143,781 | — | 372,902 | 417,589 | — | — | — | 1,934,272 | ||||||||||
| Production costs | 333,215 | — | 160,952 | 122,030 | — | — | — | 616,197 | ||||||||||
| Depreciation & depletion | 214,533 | 1,267 | 79,423 | 107,148 | — | — | 2,000 | 404,371 | ||||||||||
| Impairment of long-lived assets | 159,317 | 46,349 | — | — | — | 116,482 | — | 322,148 | ||||||||||
| Write-down of mining interests | — | — | — | — | — | 19,905 | — | 19,905 | ||||||||||
| Current income tax, withholding and other taxes | 192,462 | — | 22,813 | 75,713 | — | (1,000) | 93 | 290,081 | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | 122,008 | (45,173) | 64,897 | 85,293 | (2,687) | (107,426) | (75,324) | 41,588 | ||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | 302,670 | 92,522 | 33,950 | 64,926 | 292,934 | 23,843 | 242 | 811,087 | ||||||||||
| Total assets | 1,342,500 | 250,729 | 739,506 | 414,383 | 1,479,754 | 384,530 | 263,217 | 4,874,619 |
The Company’s mining interests are located in the following geographical locations:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | |
| Mining interests | ||
| Canada | 1,445,143 | 1,509,289 |
| Mali | 1,066,748 | 1,131,343 |
| Philippines | 480,570 | 533,781 |
| Namibia | 182,758 | 264,747 |
| Colombia | 74,875 | 66,184 |
| Finland | 36,033 | 32,954 |
| Burkina Faso | — | 21,087 |
| Other | 5,308 | 4,105 |
| 3,291,435 | 3,563,490 | |
| B2GOLD CORP. | ||
| --- | ||
| NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||
| December 31, 2024 and 2023 | ||
| (All tabular amounts are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated) |
26Commitments
As at December 31, 2024, the Company had the following commitments (in addition to those disclosed elsewhere in these financial statements):
•For payments of $13 million for mobile equipment purchases and rebuilds, $1 million for the tailings storage facility, $1 million for underground development, $1 million related to plant and powerhouse maintenance and $1 million for other capital projects at the Fekola Mine, all of which is expected to be incurred in 2025.
•For payments of $21 million for construction activities at the Goose Project, all of which is expected to be incurred in 2025.
40
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.3 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
B2GOLD CORP.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
For the year ended December 31, 2024
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) has been prepared as at February 19, 2025 and contains certain "forward-looking information" and “forward-looking statements” under Canadian and United States securities laws, respectively ("forward-looking statements"). All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation statements regarding potential mineralization, exploration results and future plans, production and objectives of B2Gold Corp. (the “Company” or “B2Gold”), are forward-looking statements that involve various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. See the “Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information” section. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements as a result of a number of factors, including those set out in “Risks and Uncertainties.”
The following discussion of the operating results and financial position of the Company should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024. These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”). All amounts are expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated. All production results and the Company's guidance presented in this MD&A reflect total production at the mines the Company operates on a 100% basis. Production from Calibre Mining Corp.'s ("Calibre") La Libertad, El Limon and Pan mines is presented on an approximate 24% basis until January 24, 2024 and 14% subsequently until June 20, 2024 (fourth quarter of 2023 - 24%), representing the Company’s indirect ownership interest in Calibre's operations through its equity investment in Calibre. On June 20, 2024, after selling 79 million common shares of Calibre reducing its ownership interest to approximately 4%, the Company determined that it no longer has significant influence over Calibre and as a result, after June 20, 2024, no longer records attributable production representing its indirect ownership interest in Calibre's mines through an equity investment.
Additional information related to B2Gold, including our Annual Information Form, is available on the Company's website www.b2gold.com and on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.
INDEX
| Overview | 2 |
|---|---|
| Review of Financial Results | 6 |
| Review of Mining Operations and Development Projects | 11 |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources | 19 |
| Critical Accounting Estimates | 25 |
| Risks and Uncertainties | 27 |
| Disclosure Controls and Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting | 28 |
| Non-IFRS Measures | 28 |
| Summary of Quarterly Results | 38 |
| Summary and Outlook | 38 |
| Outstanding Share Data | 39 |
| Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information | 39 |
OVERVIEW
B2Gold is a Vancouver-based gold producer with three operating mines: the Fekola Mine in Mali, the Masbate Mine in the Philippines and the Otjikoto Mine in Namibia, and a fourth mine under construction in Canada, the Goose Project. The Company also holds an approximately 33% interest in Versamet Royalties Corporation ("Versamet") and a portfolio of exploration and development projects in a number of countries including Mali, Colombia and Finland.
Summary
Consolidated gold revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $1.90 billion on sales of 801,524 ounces at an average realized gold price of $2,373 per ounce, compared to $1.93 billion on sales of 994,060 ounces at an average realized gold price of $1,946 per ounce in 2023. The decrease in gold revenue of 2% ($32 million) was due to a decrease in gold ounces sold partially offset by an increase in the average realized gold price. For the fourth quarter of 2024, consolidated gold revenue was $500 million on sales of 187,793 ounces at an average realized gold price of $2,661 per ounce, compared to $512 million on sales of 256,921 ounces at an average realized gold price of $1,993 per ounce in the fourth quarter of 2023. The fourth quarter decrease in gold revenue of 2% ($12 million) was due to a decrease in gold ounces sold (mainly due to the lower gold production), partially offset by an increase in the average realized gold price.
Total gold production for 2024 was 804,778 ounces (including 19,644 ounces of attributable production from Calibre) (2023 - 1,061,060 ounces), at the low end of the Company's guidance range of between 800,000 and 870,000 ounces. Consolidated gold production from the Company’s three operating mines was 785,134 ounces (2023 - 992,343 ounces), at the low end of the guidance range of between 780,000 and 850,000 ounces. In 2024, the Fekola Mine produced 392,946 ounces of gold, below the low end of its guidance range of between 420,000 and 450,000 ounces due to delays in accessing higher-grade ore from Fekola Phase 7 as a result of lower realized mine production (refer to "Review of Mining Operations and Development Projects" section below). The Masbate and Otjikoto mines continued their strong performance in 2024. The Masbate Mine produced 194,046 ounces of gold, at the upper end of its guidance range of 175,000 to 195,000 ounces, while the Otjikoto Mine produced 198,142 ounces of gold, near the mid-point of its guidance range of 185,000 to 205,000 ounces. In the fourth quarter of 2024, B2Gold’s consolidated gold production was 186,001 ounces, 25% (61,822 ounces) lower than budget and 31% (84,610 ounces) lower than the fourth quarter of 2023. In the fourth quarter of 2024, at the Fekola Mine, production was lower than expected due to the continued delays in accessing higher-grade ore from Fekola Phase 7, a result of lower realized mine production from the Fekola Phase 7 and Cardinal pits during the period. Mining and processing of these higher-grade tonnes is now expected in 2025 as equipment availability had returned to full capacity and mining rates were back to expected levels at the end of 2024. The Fekola Mine and mill are operating without limitations and gold production is being exported for refining as per its regular planned schedule. Masbate and Otjikoto both continued to outperform expectations in the fourth quarter of 2024, which partially offset the lower than expected production levels at Fekola during the fourth quarter.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, consolidated cash operating costs1 were $879 per gold ounce produced ($851 per gold ounce sold), $21 (2%) per gold ounce produced higher than budget and $248 (39%) per gold ounce produced higher than 2023. Including estimated attributable results for Calibre, cash operating costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $889 per gold ounce produced ($861 per gold ounce sold) at the upper end of the Company's guidance range of $835 to $895 per ounce and $235 (36%) per gold ounce produced higher than 2023. Cash operating cost per gold ounce produced for 2024 was higher than 2023 mainly as a result of higher production in 2023 compared to 2024. In the fourth quarter of 2024, consolidated cash operating costs were $968 per gold ounce produced ($966 per gold ounce sold), $247 (34%) per gold ounce produced above budget and $357 (58%) per gold ounce produced higher than the fourth quarter of 2023. Consolidated cash operating costs for the fourth quarter of 2024 were higher than budget and the fourth quarter of 2023 as a result of lower production in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Consolidated all-in sustaining costs2 for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $1,463 per gold ounce sold compared to $1,199 per gold ounce sold for 2023. Including estimated attributable results for Calibre, all-in sustaining costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $1,465 per gold ounce sold ($1,201 per gold ounce sold for 2023), within the Company's guidance range of $1,420 to $1,480 per ounce sold. Consolidated all-in sustaining costs for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $1,668 per gold ounce sold, $502 (43%) per ounce sold higher than the budget of $1,166 per gold ounce sold and higher than $1,264 per gold ounce sold for the fourth quarter of 2023. Consolidated all-in sustaining costs for the fourth quarter of 2024 were higher than budget as a result of lower than budgeted gold ounces sold resulting from lower than budgeted production, higher than budgeted royalties resulting from a higher than budgeted gold price, as well as new royalties implemented in 2024 for the Fekola Mine.
1 “Cash operating costs” a non-IFRS measure; for a description of how we calculate this measure and a reconciliation from this measure to the most directly comparable measure specified, defined or determined under IFRS and presented in our financial statements, refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”
2 “All-in sustaining costs” is a non-IFRS measure; for a description of how we calculate this measure and a reconciliation from this measure to the most directly comparable measure specified, defined or determined under IFRS and presented in our financial statements, refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company generated a net loss of $627 million predominantly due to non-cash impairment charges on the Goose Project and the Fekola Complex (refer to "Review of Mining Operations and Development Projects" section below) compared to net income of $42 million in 2023, including a net loss attributable to the shareholders of the Company of $630 million (net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company of $0.48 per share) compared to net income attributable to shareholders of $10 million ($0.01 per share) in 2023. Adjusted net income attributable to the shareholders of the Company3 for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $207 million ($0.16 per share) compared to $347 million ($0.28 per share) in 2023. The Company generated a net loss for the fourth quarter of 2024 of $9 million compared to a net loss of $117 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. For the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company generated a net loss attributable to the shareholders of the Company of $12 million (net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company of $0.01 per share) compared to a net loss attributable to the shareholders of the Company of $113 million (net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company of $0.09 per share) in the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders of the Company for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $17 million ($0.01 per share) compared to $91 million ($0.07 per share) in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Cash flow provided by operating activities was $878 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $714 million during 2023, an increase of $164 million, due mainly to $500 million of proceeds received from the Gold Prepay (as defined below) in January 2024, partially offset by lower gold revenues, higher production costs, higher long-term inventory outflows and higher working capital outflows. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company paid $360 million (2023 - $239 million) of current income tax, withholding and other taxes in cash, including $95 million related to 2023 outstanding tax liability obligations and $70 million for settlement of income tax assessments as part of the Fekola Mine Memorandum of Understanding announced on September 11, 2024 as discussed below. Based on current assumptions, including an average gold price of $2,250 per ounce for 2025, the Company is forecasting to make total cash income tax payments for current income tax, withholding and other taxes in 2025 of approximately $206 million.
B2Gold continues to maintain a strong financial position and liquidity. At December 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $337 million compared to cash and cash equivalents of $307 million at December 31, 2023. Working capital (defined as current assets less current liabilities) at December 31, 2024 was $321 million compared to $397 million at December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2024, the Company had $400 million drawn on the Company's $800 million revolving credit facility ("RCF") with $400 million remaining available for future draw downs. Subsequent to December 31, 2024, the RCF balance was repaid using funds raised from the Notes offering completed January 28, 2025 as described below, leaving the full balance available under the RCF for future draw downs.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, B2Gold’s Board of Directors ("Board") declared cash dividends for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2024 of $0.04 per common share each (or $0.16 per share on an annualized basis). On January 13, 2025, the Company announced amendments to its shareholder returns strategy to increase financial flexibility as it completes its current phase of organic growth, including the anticipated commencement of initial production from Fekola Regional in Mali, the completion of construction of the Goose Mine in Nunavut, Canada, the development of the Antelope deposit at the Otjikoto Mine in Namibia, and de-risking activities at the Gramalote Project in Colombia. Management and the Board have completed a comprehensive review of its existing dividend level and approved a change in its intended quarterly dividend rate from $0.04 per common share ($0.16 per common share on an annualized basis) to $0.02 per common share ($0.08 per common share on an annualized basis). Based on the Company’s funding requirements, including completing construction of the Goose Mine (which remains on schedule and on budget to the current timeline and total construction cost estimate as outlined in B2Gold’s September 12, 2024 news release), advancing development of the Antelope deposit at the Otjikoto Mine, de-risking activities at the Gramalote Project in Colombia, combined with the upcoming delivery of 264,768 gold ounces from July 2025 to June 2026 to satisfy the Gold Prepay, the Company determined that modifying the quarterly dividend level to $0.02 per common share is commensurate to the current growth phase of the Company and provides additional financial flexibility to advance and complete its organic growth opportunities, while still providing shareholders with a sustainable dividend moving forward. Return of capital to shareholders remains a foundational element of B2Gold’s capital allocation philosophy. The declaration and payment of future dividends and the amount of any such dividends will be subject to the determination of the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, taking into account, among other things, economic conditions, business performance, financial condition, growth plans, expected capital requirements, compliance with B2Gold's constating documents, all applicable laws, including the rules and policies of any applicable stock exchange, as well as any contractual restrictions on such dividends, including any agreements entered into with lenders to the Company, and any other factors that the Board deems appropriate at the relevant time. There can be no assurance that any dividends will be paid at the revised intended rate or at all in the future.
Total gold production for 2025 is expected to be between 970,000 and 1,075,000 ounces. The expected increase in gold production relative to 2024 is predominantly due to the scheduled mining and processing of higher-grade ore from the Fekola Phase 7 and Cardinal pits made accessible by the deferred stripping campaign that was undertaken throughout 2024, the expected contribution from Fekola Regional starting in mid-2025, the commencement of mining of higher-grade ore at Fekola underground in mid-2025, and the commencement of gold production at the Goose Project by the end of the second quarter of 2025, partially offset by the scheduled conclusion of open pit mining activities and transition to underground mining and stockpile processing at the Otjikoto Mine in the third quarter of 2025. Total consolidated cash operating cost guidance for the Fekola Complex, Masbate Mine, and Otjikoto Mine for 2025 are forecast to be between $835 and $895 per gold ounce and total all-in sustaining cost guidance for the Fekola Complex, Masbate Mine, and Otjikoto Mine for 2025 are forecast to be between $1,460
3 “Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders of the Company” is a non-IFRS measure; for a description of how we calculate this measure and a reconciliation from this measure to the most directly comparable measure specified, defined or determined under IFRS and presented in our financial statements, refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”
and $1,520 per gold ounce. Operating cost guidance for the Goose Project will be released in the second quarter of 2025 (prior to the commencement of initial production), after publication in the first quarter of 2025 of B2Gold’s initial Goose Project life of mine plan based on updated Mineral Reserves.
In January 2024, to further enhance the financial flexibility of the Company and provide additional cash liquidity as the Company continues to fund sustaining, development and growth projects across the operating portfolio, and increase financial capacity for potential growth projects in Namibia and Colombia, B2Gold entered into a series of prepaid gold sales (the "Gold Prepay") with a number of its existing RCF syndicate lenders. The Company received an upfront payment of $500 million, based on gold forward curve prices averaging approximately $2,191 per ounce, in exchange for equal monthly deliveries of gold from July 2025 to June 2026 totaling 264,768 ounces, representing approximately 12% of expected annual gold production in each of 2025 and 2026 (subject to finalization of production guidance 2026). Gold deliveries can be satisfied with production from any of the Company’s operating mines and the Gold Prepay can be settled prior to maturity through accelerated delivery of the remaining deliverable gold ounces. The Gold Prepay was executed by Bank of Montreal, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, ING Capital Markets LLC, and National Bank of Canada.
On January 31, 2024, the Company announced positive exploration drilling results from the Antelope deposit at the Otjikoto Mine. The Antelope deposit, which comprises the Springbok Zone, the Oryx Zone, and a possible third structure, Impala, subject to further confirmatory drilling, is located approximately 3 kilometres ("km") south of the Otjikoto open pit. On June 20, 2024, the Company announced an initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate for the Springbok Zone, the southernmost shoot of the Antelope deposit.
B2Gold successfully completed the 2024 winter ice road ("WIR") campaign in May 2024 and delivered all necessary material from the Marine Laydown Area ("MLA") to complete the construction of the Goose Project in the second quarter of 2025. The mill is now scheduled to start wet commissioning in the second quarter of 2025 with ramp up to full production in the third quarter of 2025. The Company estimates that gold production in calendar year 2025 will be between 120,000 ounces and 150,000 ounces. Development of the open pit and underground remain a priority to ensure that adequate material is available for start-up of the mill and that Echo Pit is available for tailings placement. Open pit mining is meeting production targets and is anticipated to be ready to receive tailings when the mill starts. The underground mine is tracking slightly behind budget but remains on schedule overall for commencement of production by the end of the second quarter of 2025. B2Gold is currently reviewing final options for mining of the crown pillar and maximizing volumes of Echo Pit.
All planned construction in 2024 has been completed and project construction and development continues to progress on track for first gold pour at the Goose Project in the second quarter of 2025, followed by a ramp up to commercial production in the third quarter of 2025. Sealift offloading performance increased in 2024 due to a newly constructed barge ramp, with ten supply vessels received at the MLA, ahead of schedule. All vessels have completed the offload of supplies to the MLA as of October 2024.
In the third quarter of 2024, the Company announced that total Goose Project construction, mine development, and sustaining capital cash expenditures (“Construction and Mine Development Cost”) before first gold production estimate is now C$1,540 million. Additionally, prior to first production, the Company anticipates spending approximately C$330 million to build up working capital and stockpiles at site, which further de-risks the ramp up of the operation and will reduce operating cash expenditures in the future.
On June 5, 2024, the Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement (the “Versamet Agreement”) to sell a portfolio of nine precious and base metals royalties (the “Royalties”) to Sandbox Royalties Corp. (“Sandbox”), which has subsequently changed its name to Versamet Royalty Corporation ("Versamet"), a private, returns-focused metals royalty company (the “Royalty Sale”). Under the terms of the Versamet Agreement, Versamet acquired ownership of the Royalties and as consideration issued 153.2 million common shares to B2Gold at a price of C$0.80 per share, representing an equity ownership interest in Versamet of 33.0% valued at approximately $90 million. The Royalties are comprised of the following:
•2.7% net smelter return (“NSR”) royalty on the Kiaka Gold Project, owned by West African Resources Ltd.;
•2.7% NSR royalty on the Toega Gold Deposit, owned by West African Resources Ltd.;
•2.0% NSR royalty on the Mocoa Project, owned by Libero Copper & Gold Corp.;
•1.5% NSR royalty on the Primavera Project, owned by Calibre Mining Corp.; and
•Five additional exploration stage royalties.
The closing of the first phase of the Royalty Sale occurred on June 5, 2024, and included the royalties on the Kiaka Gold Project, the Toega Gold Deposit, the Primavera Project, and two exploration stage royalties. In connection with the first phase closing, B2Gold received 122 million shares of Versamet. The closing of the second phase of the Royalty Sale occurred on August 13, 2024 and B2Gold received an additional 17 million shares of Versamet.
On June 18, 2024, the Company announced the results of a positive PEA prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”) on its 100% owned Gramalote gold project located in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia (the “Gramalote Project”). B2Gold has commenced feasibility work with the goal of completing a feasibility study by mid-2025.
On June 20, 2024, the Company completed the sale of an aggregate 79,000,000 common shares of Calibre in the ordinary course for investment purposes by way of a block trade (the “Calibre Transaction”) for aggregate gross proceeds of $100 million (C$139 million). Immediately prior to the Calibre Transaction, B2Gold owned 110,950,333 common shares of Calibre
representing approximately 14.1% of Calibre. As a result of the Calibre Transaction, B2Gold’s ownership decreased to approximately 4.4% and no longer has the right to a seat on the Board of Directors of Calibre. The Company determined that it no longer has significant influence over Calibre and stopped equity accounting for Calibre as of June 20, 2024. In the second half of 2024, the Company disposed of its remaining 32 million share interest for proceeds of $58 million.
On September 11, 2024, the Company announced that it had reached a Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU Agreement”) with the State of Mali (the “State”) in connection with the ongoing operation and governance of the Fekola Complex, including the development of both the underground project at the Fekola Mine (owned 80% by B2Gold and 20% by the State of Mali) and Fekola Regional. The Fekola Complex is comprised of the Fekola Mine (Medinandi permit hosting the Fekola and Cardinal pits and Fekola underground) and Fekola Regional (Anaconda Area (Bantako, Menankoto and Bakolobi permits) and the Dandoko permit), which is located approximately 20 km from the Fekola Mine. The material terms of the MOU Agreement included:
•The Fekola Mine (including Fekola underground) continues to be governed by the 2012 Mining Code and the Fekola Mining Convention through 2040. This includes continued stability of the ownership, income tax and customs regimes and the Company’s dispute resolution rights under the Fekola Mining Convention;
•Distribution of all retained earnings currently attributable to the State’s 10% ordinary share interest and conversion of that interest to a 10% preferred share interest with priority dividends going forward;
•Settlement of any and all income tax assessments for the period from 2016 through 2023 and settlement of customs and regulatory disputes and assessments that are currently outstanding; and
•Acknowledgement by the State of outstanding value-added tax (“VAT”) credits and agreement on a repayment schedule outlining the timing for reimbursement of outstanding VAT, together with clear guidelines on the expectation for reimbursement of VAT going forward.
The Company made all required payments described above under the MOU Agreement by the end of December 2024.
On December 17, 2024, B2Gold completed the renewal of its RCF, increasing the total available amount from $700 million to $800 million, plus a $200 million accordion feature. The new RCF has a term until December 17, 2028. The RCF was completed with a syndicate of banks: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, ING Bank N.V., The Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank of Montreal, National Bank of Canada, HSBC Bank USA, National Association and Citibank N.A., Canadian Branch.
On January 28, 2025, the Company issued convertible senior unsecured notes (“the Notes”) with an aggregate principal amount of $460 million. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 2.75% per annum, payable semi-annually on February 1st and August 1st of each year commencing from August 1, 2025. The Notes mature on February 1, 2030. The initial conversion rate for the Notes is 315.2088 common shares of B2Gold (“Shares”) per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $3.17 per Share. The initial conversion rate represents a premium of approximately 35% relative to closing sale price of the Shares on January 23, 2025 and is subject to adjustment in certain events. B2Gold has the right to redeem the Notes in certain circumstances and holders have the right to require B2Gold to repurchase their Notes upon the occurrence of certain events. The Notes are our senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The Notes are effectively subordinated to all of the Company's existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. The Notes are structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities, including trade payables, of the Company's subsidiaries.
In connection with the issuance of the Notes, B2Gold completed a cash settled total return swap with respect to approximately $50 million of Shares which were purchased by one of the initial purchasers of the Notes. The total return swap is intended to give B2Gold economic exposure to its Shares during the term of the total return swap, which is expected to be approximately one month. Such purchases may have the effect of increasing (or reducing the size of any decrease in) the market price of the Shares. Any unwind of such hedge positions, including at settlement of the total return swap, may have the effect of decreasing (or reducing the size of any increase in) the market price of the Shares or the Notes.
On February 4, 2025, the Company announced the positive PEA results for the Antelope deposit. Based on the positive results from the PEA, B2Gold believes that the Antelope deposit has the potential to become a small-scale, low-cost, underground gold mine that can supplement the low-grade stockpile production during the period of 2028 to 2032 and result in a meaningful production profile for Otjikoto into the next decade. The PEA for Antelope indicates an initial mine life of 5 years and total production of 327,000 ounces averaging approximately 65,000 ounce per year over the life-of mine. In combination with the processing of existing low grade stockpiles, production from Antelope has the potential to increase Otjikoto Mine production to approximately 110,000 ounces per year from 2029 through 2032. The Company has approved an initial budget of up to $10 million for 2025 to de-risk the Antelope deposit development schedule by advancing early work planning, project permits, and long lead orders. Technical work including geotechnical, hydrogeological, and metallurgical testing is anticipated to be completed over the next several months. Cost and schedule assumptions will continue to be refined by working with suppliers and contractors, including running a competitive bid process for the development phase of the Antelope deposit. The PEA is preliminary in nature and is based on Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the engineering and economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA based on these Mineral Resources will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
REVIEW OF FINANCIAL RESULTS
Selected Quarterly and Full Year Financial and Operating Results
| Three months ended | Year ended | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31 | December 31 | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Gold revenue ($ in thousands) | 499,788 | 511,974 | 1,902,030 | 1,934,272 | 1,732,590 |
| Net (loss) income ($ in thousands) | (9,325) | (117,396) | (626,653) | 41,588 | 286,723 |
| (Loss) earnings per share – basic (1) ($/share) | (0.01) | (0.09) | (0.48) | 0.01 | 0.24 |
| (Loss) earnings per share – diluted (1) ($/share) | (0.01) | (0.09) | (0.48) | 0.01 | 0.24 |
| Cash provided by operating activities ($ in thousands) | 120,544 | 205,443 | 877,604 | 714,453 | 595,798 |
| Total assets ($ in thousands) | 4,813,998 | 4,874,619 | 4,813,998 | 4,874,619 | 3,681,233 |
| Non-current liabilities ($ in thousands) | 1,197,614 | 651,173 | 1,197,614 | 651,173 | 335,828 |
| Average realized gold price ($/ounce) | 2,661 | 1,993 | 2,373 | 1,946 | 1,788 |
| Adjusted net income(1)(2) ($ in thousands) | 17,433 | 90,697 | 206,542 | 347,203 | 263,782 |
| Adjusted earnings per share (1)(2) - basic ($) | 0.01 | 0.07 | 0.16 | 0.28 | 0.25 |
| Consolidated operations results: | |||||
| Gold sold (ounces) | 187,793 | 256,921 | 801,524 | 994,060 | 969,155 |
| Gold produced (ounces) | 186,001 | 270,611 | 785,134 | 992,343 | 973,003 |
| Production costs ($ in thousands) | 181,376 | 164,406 | 681,828 | 616,197 | 626,526 |
| Cash operating costs(2) ($/gold ounce sold) | 966 | 640 | 851 | 620 | 646 |
| Cash operating costs(2) ($/gold ounce produced) | 968 | 611 | 879 | 631 | 637 |
| Total cash costs(2) ($/gold ounce sold) | 1,235 | 769 | 1,034 | 756 | 768 |
| All-in sustaining costs(2) ($/gold ounce sold) | 1,668 | 1,264 | 1,463 | 1,199 | 1,022 |
| Operations results including equity investment in Calibre: | |||||
| Gold sold (ounces) | 187,793 | 274,980 | 821,168 | 1,062,785 | 1,024,272 |
| Gold produced (ounces) | 186,001 | 288,665 | 804,778 | 1,061,060 | 1,027,874 |
| Production costs ($ in thousands) | 181,376 | 181,801 | 706,954 | 683,963 | 684,894 |
| Cash operating costs(2) ($/gold ounce sold) | 966 | 661 | 861 | 644 | 669 |
| Cash operating costs(2) ($/gold ounce produced) | 968 | 633 | 889 | 654 | 660 |
| Total cash costs(2) ($/gold ounce sold) | 1,235 | 786 | 1,041 | 776 | 788 |
| All-in sustaining costs(2) ($/ounce gold sold) | 1,668 | 1,257 | 1,465 | 1,201 | 1,033 |
(1) Attributable to the shareholders of the Company.
(2) Non-IFRS measure. For a description of how these measures are calculated and a reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable measures specified, defined or determined under IFRS and presented in the Company’s financial statements, refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”.
Annual results
Revenue
Consolidated gold revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $1.90 billion on sales of 801,524 ounces at an average realized gold price of $2,373 per ounce, compared to $1.93 billion on sales of 994,060 ounces at an average realized gold price of $1,946 per ounce in 2023. The decrease in gold revenue of 2% ($32 million) was due to a decrease in gold ounces sold partially offset by an increase in the average realized gold price.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Fekola Mine accounted for $952 million (2023 - $1.14 billion) of gold revenue from the sale of 404,458 ounces (2023 - 588,460 ounces), the Masbate Mine accounted for $464 million (2023 - $373 million) of gold revenue from the sale of 193,270 ounces (2023 - 190,800 ounces) and the Otjikoto Mine accounted for $486 million (2023 - $418 million) of gold revenue from the sale of 203,796 ounces (2023 - 214,800 ounces).
Production and operating costs
Total gold production for 2024 was 804,778 ounces (including 19,644 ounces of attributable production from Calibre) (2023 - 1,061,060 ounces), at the low end of the Company's guidance range of between 800,000 and 870,000 ounces. Consolidated gold production from the Company’s three operating mines was 785,134 ounces (2023 - 992,343 ounces), at the low end of the guidance range of between 780,000 and 850,000 ounces. In 2024, the Fekola Mine produced 392,946 ounces of gold, below the low end of its guidance range of between 420,000 and 450,000 ounces due to delays in accessing higher-grade ore from Fekola Phase 7 as a result of lower realized mine production (refer to "Review of Mining Operations and Development Projects" section below). The Masbate and Otjikoto mines continued their strong performance in 2024. The Masbate Mine produced 194,046 ounces of gold, at the upper end of its guidance range of 175,000 to 195,000 ounces, while the Otjikoto Mine produced 198,142 ounces of gold, near the mid-point of its guidance range of 185,000 to 205,000 ounces.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, consolidated cash operating costs (refer to "Non-IFRS Measures") were $879 per gold ounce produced ($851 per gold ounce sold), $21 (2%) per gold ounce produced higher than budget and $248 (39%) per gold ounce produced higher than 2023. Including estimated attributable results for Calibre, cash operating costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $889 per gold ounce produced ($861 per gold ounce sold) at the upper end of the Company's guidance range of $835 to $895 per ounce and $235 (36%) per gold ounce produced higher than 2023. Cash operating cost per gold ounce produced for 2024 was higher than 2023 mainly as a result of higher production in 2023 compared to 2024.
Consolidated all-in sustaining costs (refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”) for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $1,463 per gold ounce sold compared to $1,199 per gold ounce sold for 2023. Including estimated attributable results for Calibre, all-in sustaining costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $1,465 per gold ounce sold ($1,201 per gold ounce sold for 2023), within the Company's guidance range of $1,420 to $1,480 per ounce sold.
Depreciation and depletion
Depreciation and depletion expense, included in total cost of sales, was $367 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $402 million in 2023. The 9% decrease in depreciation expense was mainly due to a 19% decrease in gold ounces sold partially offset by an increase in the depreciation charge per ounce sold.
Royalties and production taxes
Royalties and production taxes included in total cost of sales were $147 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $136 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The 8% increase in royalties and production taxes was mainly due to a 22% increase in average realized gold price and an increase in royalties and revenue-based production taxes and State funds for the Fekola Mine, partially offset by a 19% decrease in gold ounces sold.
Other
G&A costs relate mainly to the Company’s head office in Vancouver, the Bamako office in Mali, the Makati office in the Philippines and the Windhoek office in Namibia. For the year ended December 31, 2024, G&A costs decreased by $3 million to $59 million, primarily due to lower bank charges.
Share-based payment expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $25 million compared to $21 million for 2023. The higher share-based payment expense resulted from the issuance of the remaining shares in the Company's incentive trust in 2024.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded impairment charges totalling $876 million relating to the Fekola Complex of $194 million (pre-tax $215 million less $21 million deferred tax recovery) and the Goose Project of $661 million (refer to "Critical Accounting Estimates" section below). For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded impairment charges totalling $322 million consisting mainly of a $112 million impairment charge on the Gramalote Project as a result of the Company's acquisition from AngloGold Ashanti Limited ("AngloGold") of the remaining 50% stake in the Gramalote Project and a $206 million impairment charge on the Fekola Complex. The net impairment charge for the Fekola Complex was $192 million (pre-tax $206 million less $14 million deferred tax recovery).
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a $20 million write-down of mineral property interests relating to greenfield exploration targets.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded a $56 million gain on sale of mining interests in relation to the royalty portfolio sale to Versamet and recorded a $17 million gain on sale of shares in associate in relation to the sale of Calibre shares.
The Company recorded an expense for non-recoverable input taxes of $13 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The Company reported $24 million in foreign exchange losses for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to foreign exchange losses of $16 million in 2023, reflecting the weakening of the Malian currency.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company's estimate of its share of its associates' net income was approximately $3 million compared to $20 million in 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, this included an estimate of the Company's share of net loss for Versamet of $2 million. The Company will update any differences in the first quarter of 2025.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a $12 million provision for recognition of Otjikoto severance costs.
Other operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $29 million, which included $17 million for a regulatory dispute settlement in Mali and $8 million for non-capital exploration.
The Company reported $35 million in interest and financing expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $14 million in 2023 reflecting the financing costs associated with the Gold Prepay and the RCF for 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded interest income of $21 million compared to $19 million in 2023.
The Company reported a loss on change in fair value of the gold stream obligation of $27 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 resulting from changes in life-of-mine ounce profile, gold forward curve prices and interest rates compared to a loss of $12 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded a dilution loss on its investment in Calibre of $9 million mainly relating to the dilution of the Company's investment in Calibre from 24% to 15% following Calibre's acquisition of Marathon Gold Corp. in January 2024.
Other non-operating expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $8 million compared to an other non-operating expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 of $3 million. The non-operating expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 mainly consisted of a $7 million expected credit loss on the loan to an associate.
Current income tax, withholding and other taxes
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded a net current income, withholding and other taxes expense of $320 million compared to $290 million in 2023, consisting of current income tax of $264 million (2023 - $227 million), the 20% priority dividend to the State of Mali of $26 million (2023 - $36 million) and withholding tax (on intercompany dividends/management fees) of $29 million (2023 - $27 million). The priority dividend is accounted for as an income tax in accordance with IAS 12, Income Taxes. Compared to 2023, current tax expense for 2024 was higher mainly as a result of an increase in Fekola Mine tax audit accruals of $67 million and an increase in the Fekola priority dividend of $13 million pursuant to the MOU Agreement signed with the State of Mali in September 2024, which was partially offset by the effects of lower income for 2024 as compared to 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded a deferred income tax recovery of $2 million compared to a deferred income tax recovery of $11 million in 2023. The 2024 deferred tax recovery includes $32 million lower future withholding taxes and $42 million higher foreign exchange effects. These temporary differences mainly arise from differences in accounting and taxable income mainly due to the Fekola Complex impairment and lower tax depreciation for Otjikoto.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company generated a net loss of $627 million predominantly due to non-cash impairment charges on the Goose Project and the Fekola Complex (refer to "Review of Mining Operations and Development Projects" section below) compared to net income of $42 million in 2023 including a net loss attributable to the shareholders of the Company of $630 million (net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company of $0.48 per share) compared to $10 million ($0.01 per share) in 2023. Adjusted net income attributable to the shareholders of the Company (refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”) for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $207 million ($0.16 per share) compared to $347 million ($0.28 per share) in 2023. Adjusted net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 excluded impairment of long-lived assets of $858 million (refer to "Critical Accounting Estimates" section below), gain on sale of shares of associate of $17 million, gain on sale of mining interests of $56 million, regulatory dispute settlement of $15 million, loss on change in fair value of the gold stream obligation of $27 million, dilution loss on investment in Calibre of $9 million and deferred income tax recovery of $3 million.
Cash flow provided by operating activities was $878 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $714 million during 2023, an increase of $164 million, due mainly to $500 million of proceeds received from the Gold Prepay in January 2024, partially offset by lower gold revenues, higher production costs, higher long-term inventory outflows and higher working capital outflows. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company paid $360 million (2023 - $239 million) of current income tax, withholding and other taxes in cash, including $95 million related to 2023 outstanding tax liability obligations and $70 million for the settlement of Fekola Mine income tax assessments under the MOU Agreement signed with the State of Mali in September 2024. Based on current assumptions, including an average gold price of $2,250 per ounce for 2025, the Company is forecasting to make total cash income tax payments for current income tax, withholding and other taxes in 2025 of approximately $206 million.
B2Gold continues to maintain a strong financial position and liquidity. At December 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $337 million compared to cash and cash equivalents of $307 million at December 31, 2023. Working capital (defined as current assets less current liabilities) at December 31, 2024 was $321 million compared to $397 million at December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2024, the Company had $400 million drawn on the Company's $800 million RCF with $400 million remaining available for future draw downs. Subsequent to December 31, 2024, the RCF balance was repaid using funds raised from the Notes offering completed in January 2025 as described below, leaving the full balance available under the RCF for future draw downs.
Fourth quarter 2024 and 2023
Revenue
For the fourth quarter of 2024, consolidated gold revenue was $500 million on sales of 187,793 ounces at an average realized gold price of $2,661 per ounce, compared to $512 million on sales of 256,921 ounces at an average realized gold price of $1,993 per ounce in the fourth quarter of 2023. The fourth quarter decrease in gold revenue of 2% ($12 million) was due to a decrease in gold ounces sold (mainly due to the lower gold production), partially offset by an increase in the average realized gold price.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Fekola Mine accounted for $230 million (fourth quarter of 2023 - $256 million) of gold revenue from the sale of 86,453 ounces (fourth quarter of 2023 - 128,321 ounces), the Masbate Mine accounted for $136 million (fourth quarter of 2023 - $107 million) of gold revenue from the sale of 51,010 ounces (fourth quarter of 2023 - 53,500 ounces), the Otjikoto Mine accounted for $134 million (fourth quarter of 2023 - $149 million) of gold revenue from the sale of 50,330 ounces (fourth quarter of 2023 - 75,100 ounces).
Production and operating costs
In the fourth quarter of 2024, B2Gold’s consolidated gold production was 186,001 ounces, 25% (61,822 ounces) lower than budget and 31% (84,610 ounces) lower than the fourth quarter of 2023. In the fourth quarter of 2024, at the Fekola Mine, production was lower than expected due to the continued delays in accessing higher-grade ore from Fekola Phase 7, a result of lower realized mine production from the Fekola Phase 7 and Cardinal pits during the period. Mining and processing of these higher-grade tonnes is now expected in 2025 as equipment availability had returned to full capacity and mining rates were back to expected levels at the end of 2024. The Fekola Mine and mill are operating without limitations and gold production is being exported for refining as per its regular planned schedule. Masbate and Otjikoto both continued to outperform expectations in the fourth quarter of 2024, which partially offset the lower than expected production levels at Fekola during the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, consolidated cash operating costs (refer to "Non-IFRS Measures") were $968 per gold ounce produced ($966 per gold ounce sold), $247 (34%) per gold ounce produced above budget and $357 (58%) per gold ounce produced higher than the fourth quarter of 2023. Consolidated cash operating costs for the fourth quarter of 2024 were higher than budget and the fourth quarter of 2023 as a result of lower production in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Consolidated all-in sustaining costs (refer to "Non-IFRS Measures") for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $1,668 per gold ounce sold, $502 (43%) per ounce sold higher than the budget of $1,166 per gold ounce sold and higher than $1,264 per gold ounce sold for the fourth quarter of 2023. Consolidated all-in sustaining costs for the fourth quarter of 2024 were higher than budget as a result of lower than budgeted gold ounces sold resulting from lower than budgeted production, higher than budgeted royalties resulting from a higher than budgeted gold price as well as new royalties and revenue-based taxes and State funds implemented in 2024 for the Fekola Mine.
Depreciation and depletion
Depreciation and depletion expense included in total cost of sales was $94 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $109 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The 14% decrease in depreciation expense was primarily due to a 27% decrease in the gold ounces sold partially offset by an increase in the depreciation charge per ounce of gold sold.
Royalties and production taxes
Royalties and production taxes included in total cost of sales were $51 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $33 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The 55% increase in royalties and production taxes resulted mainly from an increase in the royalties and revenue based production taxes and State funds for the Fekola Mine, partially offset by a 27% decrease in gold ounces sold.
Other
G&A for the fourth quarter of 2024 of $19 million which was $2 million lower than the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily due to lower bank charges.
Share-based payment expense for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $10 million, $5 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2023. The higher share-based payment expense resulted from the issuance of the remaining shares from the Company's incentive trust in the fourth quarter of 2024.
For the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company recorded impairment charges totalling $206 million on the Fekola Complex. The net impairment charge for the Fekola Complex was $192 million (pre-tax $206 million less $14 million deferred income tax recovery).
The Company recorded foreign exchange losses of $16 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, reflecting the weakening of the Malian currency.
Other operating income for the fourth quarter of 2024 of $5 million included $8 million for a net realizable value adjustment reversal to the Goose Project ore stockpile partially offset by $2 million for non-capital exploration.
The Company reported $11 million in interest and financing expense for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 as a result of financing expense related to the Gold Prepay. For the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company recorded interest income of $4 million compared to $3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The Company reported a loss on change in fair value of the gold stream obligation of $6 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 resulting from changes in long-term gold prices and interest rates compared to a loss of $19 million for the fourth quarter of 2023.
Other non-operating expense for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $10 million compared to other non-operating income for the fourth quarter of 2023 of $1 million. The non-operating expense for the fourth quarter of 2024 mainly consisted of a $7 million expected credit loss on the loan to an associate.
For the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company recorded a net current income, withholding and other taxes expense of $87 million compared to $74 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, consisting of current income tax of $49 million (fourth quarter of 2023 - $64 million), the 20% priority dividend to the State of Mali of $16 million (fourth quarter of 2023 - $8 million) and withholding tax (on dividends from subsidiaries/intercompany interest/management fees) of $22 million (fourth quarter of 2023 - $2 million). The priority dividend is accounted for as an income tax in accordance with IAS 12, Income Taxes. During the fourth quarter of 2024, the priority dividend rate increased from 10% to 20% retroactive to the beginning of the year. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, current tax expense for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $15 million lower mainly because of lower income in the fourth quarter of 2024. This decrease was more than offset by $20 million higher withholding tax on intercompany dividends and $8 million higher priority dividends in the fourth quarter of 2024. For the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company recorded a deferred income tax expense of $31 million compared to a deferred income tax recovery of $13 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The fourth quarter of 2024 deferred tax expense includes $29 million lower future withholding taxes, $50 million higher foreign exchange effects and $23 million of other changes mainly due to higher temporary differences between accounting and taxable income.
Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $9 million compared to a net loss of $117 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. For the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company generated a net loss attributable to the shareholders of the Company of $12 million (net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company of $0.01 per share) compared to a net loss attributable to the shareholders of the Company of $113 million (net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company of $0.09 per share) in the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders of the Company (refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”) for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $17 million ($0.01 per share) compared to $91 million ($0.07 per share) in the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted net income in the fourth quarter of 2024 excluded loss on the change in fair value of gold stream obligation of $6 million and deferred income tax expense of $27 million.
REVIEW OF MINING OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Fekola Mine - Mali
| Three months ended | Year ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31 | December 31 | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Gold revenue ($ in thousands) | 229,779 | 255,509 | 951,676 | 1,143,781 |
| Gold sold (ounces) | 86,453 | 128,321 | 404,458 | 588,460 |
| Average realized gold price ($/ounce) | 2,658 | 1,991 | 2,353 | 1,944 |
| Tonnes of ore milled | 2,442,390 | 2,419,637 | 9,891,717 | 9,408,400 |
| Grade (grams/tonne) | 1.17 | 1.99 | 1.34 | 2.13 |
| Recovery (%) | 91.9 | 93.4 | 92.6 | 92.3 |
| Gold production (ounces) | 84,015 | 143,010 | 392,946 | 590,243 |
| Production costs ($ in thousands) | 107,778 | 82,921 | 384,221 | 333,215 |
| Cash operating costs(1) ($/gold ounce sold) | 1,247 | 646 | 950 | 566 |
| Cash operating costs(1) ($/gold ounce produced) | 1,192 | 605 | 990 | 572 |
| Total cash costs(1) ($/gold ounce sold) | 1,684 | 809 | 1,198 | 729 |
| All-in sustaining costs(1) ($/gold ounce sold) | 2,237 | 1,444 | 1,723 | 1,194 |
| Capital expenditures ($ in thousands) | 59,571 | 87,830 | 257,776 | 298,942 |
| Exploration ($ in thousands) | 1,292 | 2,022 | 4,428 | 3,728 |
(1)Non-IFRS measure. For a description of how these measures are calculated and a reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable measures specified, defined or determined under IFRS and presented in the Company’s financial statements, refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”.
The Fekola Mine in Mali (owned 80% by the Company and 20% by the State of Mali) produced 392,946 ounces of gold for the full year 2024, below the low-end of its annual guidance range of between 420,000 and 450,000 ounces due to the significant delays in accessing the higher-grade ore from Fekola Phase 7 and 33% (197,297 ounces) lower compared to 2023. At the end of 2024, equipment availability was at full capacity and mining rates were as expected, with gold production to start 2025 meeting expectations. The Fekola Mine and mill are operating without limitations and gold production is being exported for refining as per its regular planned schedule. For the year ended December 31, 2024, mill feed grade was 1.34 g/t compared to budget of 1.77 g/t and 2.13 g/t in 2023; mill throughput was 9.89 million tonnes (an annual record) compared to budget of 9.38 million tonnes and 9.41 million tonnes in 2023; and gold recovery averaged 92.6% compared to budget of 90.8% and 92.3% in 2023. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Fekola Mine in Mali produced 84,015 ounces of gold, 45% (68,098 ounces) lower than budgeted and 41% (58,995 ounces) lower compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, largely due to delays experienced in accessing higher-grade ore in Fekola Phase 7, a result of lower realized mine production from the Fekola Phase 7 and Cardinal pits during the period. Damage to an excavator earlier in 2024 and the subsequent need for replacement equipment impacted equipment availability throughout 2024, reducing tonnes mined, which continued to affect the availability of higher-grade ore of Fekola Phase 7 during the fourth quarter of 2024 resulting in less higher-grade ore processed. Mining and processing of these higher-grade tonnes is now expected in 2025 as equipment availability and utilization having returned to full capacity with mining rates at the end of 2024 exceeding budgeted mining rates for 2025. Despite short term variations, overall mined ore volumes and grades continue to reconcile relatively well with modelled values. The Fekola processing facilities continued to perform well with 2.4 million tonnes processed during the fourth quarter of 2024. During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Fekola processing facilities continued to outperform budget as a result of continued favorable ore fragmentation and continued optimization of the grinding circuit. For the fourth quarter of 2024, mill feed grade was 1.17 g/t compared to budget of 2.15 g/t and 1.99 g/t in the fourth quarter of 2023; mill throughput was 2.44 million tonnes compared to budget of 2.41 million tonnes and 2.42 million tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2023; and gold recovery averaged 91.9% compared to budget of 91.4% and 93.4% in the fourth quarter of 2023.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Fekola Mine's cash operating costs (refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”) of $990 per ounce produced ($950 per gold ounce sold) were above the higher end of Fekola's guidance range of between $870 to $930 per ounce and $418 (73%) per ounce produced higher than in 2023. Fekola's cash operating costs per ounce produced for the year ended December 31, 2024 were above the higher end of the guidance range, primarily the result of lower than budgeted production and higher than budgeted production costs due to lower than budgeted deferred stripping and stockpile inventory changes. Fekola’s cash operating costs for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $1,192 per gold ounce produced ($1,247 per gold ounce sold), $568 (91%) per ounce produced higher than the budget of $624 per ounce produced and higher than the $605 per gold ounce produced for the fourth quarter of 2023. For the fourth quarter of 2024, cash operating costs per ounce produced were higher compared to budget and the fourth quarter of 2023 for the same reasons noted above.
All-in sustaining costs (refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”) for the Fekola Mine for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $1,723 per gold ounce sold, higher than the guidance range of between $1,510 and $1,570 per ounce. For the year ended December 31, 2023, all-in sustaining costs were $1,194 per gold ounce sold. All-in sustaining costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 were above the Fekola Mine's guidance range as a result of lower than budgeted gold ounces sold resulting from lower than budgeted production and higher than budgeted royalties resulting from a higher than budgeted gold price as well as new royalties and revenue based production taxes and State funds implemented later in the third quarter of 2024. All-in sustaining costs for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $2,237 per gold ounce sold compared to a budget of $1,084 per gold ounce sold and $1,444 per gold ounce sold in the fourth quarter of 2023. As with the full year 2024, all-in sustaining costs per ounce for the fourth quarter of 2024 were higher than budgeted as a result of lower than budgeted gold ounces sold and higher than budgeted royalties and revenue-based production taxes and State funds.
Capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2024 totalled $258 million, primarily consisting of $63 million for deferred stripping, $58 million for mobile equipment purchases and rebuilds, $34 million for tailings storage facility ("TSF") expansion and equipment, $64 million for the development of the Fekola underground mine, $21 million for the expansion of the solar power plant, $8 million for process and power plant and $5 million for other mining sustaining capital. Capital expenditures in the fourth quarter of 2024 totalled $60 million, primarily consisting of $9 million for deferred stripping, $21 million for mobile equipment purchases and rebuilds, $6 million for TSF expansion and equipment, $17 million for the development of the Fekola underground mine and $2 million for the expansion of the solar power plant.
On September 11, 2024, the Company announced that it entered into the MOU Agreement with the State of Mali in connection with the ongoing operation and governance of the Fekola Complex, including the development of both the underground project at the Fekola Mine (owned 80% by B2Gold and 20% by the State of Mali) and Fekola Regional. The Fekola Complex is comprised of the Fekola Mine (Medinandi permit hosting the Fekola and Cardinal pits and Fekola underground) and Fekola Regional (Anaconda Area (Bantako, Menankoto, and Bakolobi permits) and the Dandoko permit). The material terms of the MOU Agreement include:
•The Fekola Mine (including Fekola underground) continues to be governed by the 2012 Mining Code and the Fekola Mining Convention through 2040. This includes continued stability of the ownership, income tax and customs regimes and the Company’s dispute resolution rights under the Fekola Mining Convention;
•Distribution of all retained earnings currently attributable to the State’s 10% ordinary share interest and conversion of that interest to a 10% preferred share interest with priority dividends going forward (Distributed: $107 million was distributed to the State in the fourth quarter of 2024);
•Settlement of any and all income tax assessments for the period from 2016 through 2023 and settlement of customs and regulatory disputes and assessments currently outstanding (Settled: The Company made payments of $17 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $70 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 as final settlement of income tax assessments and customs and regulatory disputes); and
•Acknowledgement by the State of outstanding VAT credits and agreement on a repayment schedule outlining the timing for reimbursement of outstanding VAT, together with clear guidelines on the expectation for reimbursement of VAT going forward.
As outlined above, upon approval of the Fekola Board of Directors and completion of remaining local statutory requirements, Fekola in the fourth quarter of 2024 distributed $107 million to the State reflecting the amount of retained earnings already accrued to the State as at December 31, 2023, from its ordinary share ownership. For 2024 onwards, the State holds a 20% preferred share interest, and the remaining 80% interest in Fekola continues to be held by B2Gold as an ordinary share interest.
The Company has agreed to begin to pay taxes on Fekola Mine fuel imports that were previously exonerated under the Fekola Mining Convention. To offset the cost of these taxes, the State has agreed to a 2% reduction in revenue-based taxes and royalties to be applied to the entire Fekola Complex, which includes both the Fekola Mine and Fekola Regional. The 2% reduction in revenue-based taxes and royalties is expected to offset substantially all of the cost of Fekola Mine fuel taxes going forward.
The Fekola Mining Convention stabilized the income tax and customs regimes in place when the Fekola mining license was issued in 2014. Under the terms of the MOU Agreement, B2Gold and the State have agreed that the revenue-based production tax royalties, which in the Company’s view does not meet the definition of an income tax under the 2012 Mining Code and that the State infrastructure, local development and mining funds introduced or clarified by the 2023 Mining Code and its related Implementation Decree, will apply to the Fekola Mine. The material terms of the MOU Agreement described above were included in the key estimates used to determine the fair value estimate for the Fekola Complex as of June 30, 2024, which resulted in a non-cash net impairment charge previously disclosed in the second quarter of 2024 financial statements. Under the terms of the MOU Agreement, the State has agreed that the Company will be entitled to realize the benefit of any terms that are more favorable than those agreed to as at the date of the MOU Agreement in the event of any subsequent amendment to the 2023 Mining Code or Implementation Decree.
As part of the MOU Agreement, the State has also committed to issuing the Company the exploitation permits for Fekola Regional and approving the exploitation phase for Fekola underground in an expeditious manner. The development of Fekola Regional is expected to demonstrate positive economics through the enhancement of the overall production profile and the extension of mine life of the Fekola Complex by providing additional higher-grade open-pit ore to be trucked approximately 20 km and fed into the Fekola mill. Trucking of higher-grade open-pit ore from the Fekola Regional to the Fekola mill is expected to contribute approximately 180,000 ounces of additional annual gold production per year in its first four full years of production from 2026 through 2029. Importantly, the haul road from Fekola Regional to the Fekola Mine is operational as construction of the
haul roads and mining infrastructure (warehouse, workshop, fuel depot and offices) was completed on schedule in 2023. Upon issuance of the exploitation permits for Fekola Regional, now expected in the first quarter of 2025, mining operations will begin with initial gold production expected to commence in mid-2025. Approval of the exploitation phase to mine higher-grade ore from the Fekola underground is anticipated to be received in the second quarter of 2025 with initial gold production from Fekola underground expected to commence in mid-2025.
The Fekola Complex is comprised of the Fekola Mine (Medinandi permit hosting the Fekola and Cardinal pits and Fekola underground) and Fekola Regional (Anaconda Area (Bantako, Menankoto, and Bakolobi permits) and the Dandoko permit). The Fekola Complex in Mali is expected to produce between 515,000 and 550,000 ounces of gold in 2025 at cash operating costs of between $845 and $905 per ounce and all-in sustaining costs of between $1,550 and $1,610 per ounce. The Fekola Complex’s total 2025 gold production is anticipated to increase significantly relative to 2024, due to the contribution of higher-grade ore from Fekola Regional and Fekola underground in mid-2025. Fekola Regional is anticipated to contribute between 20,000 and 25,000 ounces of additional gold production in 2025 through the trucking of open pit ore to the Fekola mill, and between 25,000 and 35,000 ounces of gold production is expected from the mining of higher-grade ore at Fekola underground, with production expected to commence in mid-2025.
The Fekola Complex is projected to process 9.56 million tonnes of ore during 2025 at an average grade of 1.84 g/t gold with a process gold recovery of 93.4%. Gold production is expected to be weighted approximately 40% to the first half of 2025 and 60% to the second half of 2025.
Capital expenditures in 2025 at Fekola are expected to total approximately $234 million. Approximately $197 million are expected to be classified as sustaining capital expenditures and $37 million are expected to be classified as non-sustaining capital expenditures. Sustaining capital expenditures are expected to include approximately: $106 million for deferred stripping, $44 million for new and replacement Fekola mining equipment, $15 million for TSF construction, $14 million for underground development, $7 million for other mining costs, $5 million for general site expenses, $4 million for powerhouse, and $2 million for process plant. Non-sustaining capital expenditures are expected to include $21 million for underground development, $14 million for regional development, and $2 million for mining equipment.
Masbate Mine – Philippines
| Three months ended | Year ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31 | December 31 | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Gold revenue ($ in thousands) | 135,976 | 107,063 | 464,141 | 372,902 |
| Gold sold (ounces) | 51,010 | 53,500 | 193,270 | 190,800 |
| Average realized gold price ($/ounce) | 2,666 | 2,001 | 2,402 | 1,954 |
| Tonnes of ore milled | 2,190,610 | 2,077,503 | 8,600,241 | 8,302,075 |
| Grade (grams/tonne) | 0.95 | 0.90 | 0.96 | 0.97 |
| Recovery (%) | 74.1 | 77.0 | 72.8 | 74.5 |
| Gold production (ounces) | 49,534 | 46,490 | 194,046 | 193,502 |
| Production costs ($ in thousands) | 38,392 | 43,733 | 161,462 | 160,952 |
| Cash operating costs(1) ($/gold ounce sold) | 753 | 817 | 835 | 844 |
| Cash operating costs(1) ($/gold ounce produced) | 835 | 910 | 838 | 859 |
| Total cash costs(1) ($/gold ounce sold) | 897 | 933 | 974 | 966 |
| All-in sustaining costs(1) ($/gold ounce sold) | 1,102 | 1,118 | 1,155 | 1,143 |
| Capital expenditures ($ in thousands) | 9,534 | 9,195 | 29,763 | 30,142 |
| Exploration ($ in thousands) | 610 | 1,067 | 3,649 | 3,808 |
(1)Non-IFRS measure. For a description of how these measures are calculated and a reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable measures specified, defined or determined under IFRS and presented in the Company’s financial statements, refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”.
The Masbate Mine in the Philippines continued its strong operational performance in 2024, producing 194,046 ounces of gold, at the upper end of its guidance range of 175,000 to 195,000 ounces and consistent with the year ended December 31, 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, mill feed grade was 0.96 g/t compared to budget of 0.93 g/t and 0.97 g/t in 2023; mill throughput was 8.60 million tonnes compared to budget of 7.94 million tonnes and 8.30 million tonnes in 2023; and gold recovery averaged 72.8% compared to budget of 76.0% and 74.5% in 2023. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Masbate produced 49,534 ounces of gold, 10% (4,324 ounces) higher than budget as a result of higher than anticipated mill throughput and slightly higher ore grade than budgeted, partially offset by slightly lower than expected gold recovery. Fourth quarter of 2024 mill feed grade was 0.95 g/t compared to budget of 0.95 g/t and 0.90 g/t in the fourth quarter of 2023; mill throughput was 2.19 million tonnes compared to budget of 1.97 million tonnes and 2.08 million tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2023; and gold recovery averaged 74.1% compared to budget of 76.4% and 77.0% in the fourth quarter of 2023. Fourth quarter of 2024 gold production was higher by 7% (3,044 ounces) compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 due to higher processed ore grade and higher mill throughput.
The Masbate Mine’s cash operating costs (refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”) of $838 per ounce produced for the year ended December 31, 2024 ($835 per gold ounce sold) were below the lower end of the guidance range of between $910 to $970 per ounce and consistent with the year ended December 31, 2023. Cash operating costs per gold ounce produced for the year ended December 31, 2024 were below budget primarily due to higher than budgeted gold production, lower than anticipated mining and processing costs and higher mill productivity. The Masbate Mine's cash operating costs for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $835 per gold ounce produced ($753 per gold ounce sold) which was $135 (14%) per ounce produced lower than budget and $75 (8%) per ounce produced lower than the fourth quarter of 2023. The reasons for the variances in cash operating costs per ounce produced for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to budget were similar to those noted for the year ended December 31, 2024.
All-in sustaining costs (refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”) for the Masbate Mine were $1,155 per gold ounce sold for the year ended December 31, 2024, well below the lower end of its guidance range of between $1,260 and $1,320 per ounce sold and consistent with the $1,143 per gold ounce sold for the year ended December 31, 2023. All-in sustaining costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 were lower than the guidance range as a result of higher than budgeted gold ounces sold, lower than budgeted cash operating costs described above and lower than budgeted sustaining capital expenditures, partially offset by higher gold royalties resulting from a higher than budgeted average realized gold price. All-in sustaining costs for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $1,102 per gold ounce sold compared to a budget of $1,287 per gold ounce sold and $1,118 per gold ounce sold in the fourth quarter of 2023. All-in sustaining costs for the fourth quarter of 2024 were below budget as a result of higher than budgeted gold ounces sold, lower than budgeted cash operating costs described above, partially offset by higher than budgeted sustaining capital expenditures and higher gold royalties resulting from a higher than budgeted average realized gold price.
Capital expenditures totalled $30 million in 2024, primarily consisting of mobile equipment rebuilds and purchases of $14 million, $3 million in deferred stripping, $3 million for process plant upgrades, $3 million for expansion of the existing TSF and $2 million for land purchases. Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2024 totalled $10 million, primarily consisting of $4 million for mobile equipment rebuilds and purchases, $1 million in deferred stripping and $1 million for expansion of the existing TSF and $1 million for powerhouse rebuilds.
The Masbate Mine in the Philippines is expected to produce between 170,000 and 190,000 ounces of gold in 2025 at cash operating costs of between $955 and $1,015 per ounce and all-in sustaining costs of between $1,310 and $1,370 per ounce. Gold production at Masbate is expected to be relatively consistent throughout 2025. Masbate is projected to process 8.0 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 0.88 g/t gold with a process gold recovery of 79.9%. Mill feed will be a blend of mined fresh ore from the Main Vein pit and low-grade ore stockpiles.
Capital expenditures for 2025 at Masbate are expected to total $47 million. Approximately $30 million are expected to be classified as sustaining capital expenditures and $17 million are expected to be classified as non-sustaining capital expenditures. Sustaining capital expenditures are expected to include $8 million for deferred stripping, $7 million for mining equipment rebuilds and replacements, $6 million for construction of a new solar plant, $5 million for tailings storage facility construction, $3 million for processing, and $1 million for general site facilities. Non-sustaining capital expenditures are expected to include $13 million for Pajo pit land acquisition and $4 million for Pajo development.
Otjikoto Mine - Namibia
| Three months ended | Year ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31 | December 31 | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Gold revenue ($ in thousands) | 134,034 | 149,402 | 486,213 | 417,589 |
| Gold sold (ounces) | 50,330 | 75,100 | 203,796 | 214,800 |
| Average realized gold price ($/ounce) | 2,663 | 1,989 | 2,386 | 1,944 |
| Tonnes of ore milled | 788,536 | 888,561 | 3,338,384 | 3,443,308 |
| Grade (grams/tonne) | 2.10 | 2.88 | 1.87 | 1.91 |
| Recovery (%) | 98.6 | 98.5 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| Gold production (ounces) | 52,452 | 81,111 | 198,142 | 208,598 |
| Production costs ($ in thousands) | 35,206 | 37,752 | 136,145 | 122,030 |
| Cash operating costs(1) ($/gold ounce sold) | 700 | 503 | 668 | 568 |
| Cash operating costs(1) ($/gold ounce produced) | 733 | 451 | 699 | 585 |
| Total cash costs(1) ($/gold ounce sold) | 806 | 582 | 763 | 646 |
| All-in sustaining costs(1) ($/gold ounce sold) | 913 | 816 | 951 | 984 |
| Capital expenditures ($ in thousands) | 2,714 | 14,797 | 28,842 | 61,063 |
| Exploration ($ in thousands) | 2,634 | 1,410 | 7,825 | 3,863 |
(1)Non-IFRS measure. For a description of how these measures are calculated and a reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable measures specified, defined or determined under IFRS and presented in the Company’s financial statements, refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”.
The Otjikoto Mine in Namibia, in which the Company holds a 90% interest, had a strong finish to 2024 and produced 198,142 ounces of gold, near the mid-point of its guidance range of between 185,000 and 205,000 ounces and 5% (10,456 ounces) lower compared to 2023, mainly due to the planned processing of slightly lower grade ore in 2024 as compared to 2023, as well as lower mill throughput as a result of SAG mill girth gear maintenance repairs completed during 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2024, mill feed grade was 1.87 g/t compared to budget of 1.77 g/t and 1.91 g/t in 2023; mill throughput was 3.34 million tonnes compared to budget of 3.41 million tonnes and 3.44 million tonnes in 2023; and gold recovery averaged 98.6% compared to budget of 98.0% and 98.6% in 2023. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Otjikoto Mine produced 52,452 ounces of gold which was 4% (1,952 ounces) above budget and 35% (28,659 ounces) lower than the fourth quarter of 2023 mainly due to the planned processing of lower grade ore in the fourth quarter of 2024 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, as well as lower than budgeted mill throughput during the fourth quarter of 2024, a result of SAG mill girth gear maintenance repairs completed during the quarter. For the fourth quarter of 2024, mill feed grade was 2.10 g/t compared to budget of 1.87 g/t and 2.88 g/t in the fourth quarter of 2023; mill throughput was 0.79 million tonnes compared to budget of 0.86 million tonnes and 0.89 million tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2023; and gold recovery averaged 98.6% compared to budget of 98.0% and 98.5% in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Ore production from the Wolfshag underground mine for the fourth quarter of 2024 averaged over 1,650 tonnes per day at an average grade of 3.61 g/t gold. Open pit mining operations at the Otjikoto Mine are expected to conclude in 2025, while processing operations are expected to continue until economically viable stockpiles are exhausted in 2032. Underground operations under the current Otjikoto mine plan are projected to continue into 2027 with potential to extend underground operations if the ongoing underground exploration program is successful in identifying additional underground mineral deposits.
On January 31, 2024, the Company announced positive exploration drilling results from the Antelope deposit at the Otjikoto Mine. The Antelope deposit, which comprises the Springbok Zone, the Oryx Zone, and a possible third structure, Impala, subject to further confirmatory drilling, is located approximately 3 kilometres ("km") south of the Otjikoto open pit. On June 20, 2024, the Company announced an initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate for the Springbok Zone, the southernmost shoot of the Antelope deposit. Over 40,000 metres ("m") have been drilled into the Springbok Zone to date, with 33 holes totaling 16,950 m completed in 2024, to establish the 50 x 50 m spacing that informs this initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate. Recent drilling at the Springbok Zone remains open southward, indicating additional exploration potential beyond the currently defined resource. The Company determined that the initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 1.75 million tonnes grading 6.91 g/t gold for a total of 390,000 ounces of gold ounces was sufficient to initiate a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") on development of the deposit by underground mining methods, similar to the Wolfshag deposit. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that all or any part of the Mineral Resource will be converted into a Mineral Reserve. Inferred Resources are considered too geologically speculative to have mining and economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves.
On February 4, 2025, the Company announced the positive PEA results for the Antelope deposit. Based on the positive results from the PEA, B2Gold believes that the Antelope deposit has the potential to become a small-scale, low-cost, underground gold mine that can supplement the low-grade stockpile production during the period of 2028 to 2032 and result in a meaningful production profile for Otjikoto into the next decade. The PEA for Antelope indicates an initial mine life of 5 years and total production of 327,000 ounces averaging approximately 65,000 ounce per year over the life-of mine. In combination with the processing of existing low grade stockpiles, production from Antelope has the potential to increase Otjikoto Mine production to approximately 110,000 ounces per year for 2029 through 2032. The Company has approved an initial budget of up to $10 million for 2025 to de-risk the Antelope deposit development schedule by advancing early work planning, project permits, and long lead orders. Technical work including geotechnical, hydrogeological, and metallurgical testing is anticipated to be completed over the next several months. Cost and schedule assumptions will continue to be refined by working with suppliers and contractors, including running a competitive bid process for the development phase of the Antelope deposit.
The Otjikoto Mine's cash operating costs (refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”) for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $699 per gold ounce produced ($668 per gold ounce sold), at the low end of its guidance range of between $685 to $745 per ounce produced. Cash operating costs per ounce produced for the year ended December 31, 2024 were below the guidance range as a result of higher than budgeted gold ounces produced. For the fourth quarter of 2024, the Otjikoto Mine's cash operating costs were $733 per gold ounce produced ($700 per ounce gold sold), compared to a budget of $788 per ounce produced. Lower than budget cash operating costs per ounce produced for the fourth quarter of 2024 were driven by higher than budgeted gold ounces produced and higher than budgeted net increases in stockpiled ore from open pits. Cash operating costs per ounce produced for the fourth quarter of 2024 and the year ended December 31, 2024 were 63% and 19% higher respectively, than the fourth quarter of 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2023, respectively, mainly as a result of higher ounces produced in 2023.
All-in sustaining costs (refer to “Non-IFRS Measures”) for the Otjikoto Mine for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $951 per gold ounce sold below the low end of its guidance range of $960 to $1,020 per ounce sold and lower compared to $984 per gold ounce sold in 2023. All-in sustaining costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 were below the low-end of the guidance range as a result of offsetting factors. Higher than budgeted gold ounces sold and lower than budgeted cash operating costs described above were offset by higher gold royalties resulting from a higher than budgeted average realized gold price. All-in sustaining costs for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $913 per gold ounce sold, in line with the budget of $912 per gold ounce sold and higher than $816 per gold ounce sold in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Capital expenditures totalled $29 million in 2024, primarily consisting of $20 million for deferred stripping for the Otjikoto pit and $8 million for Wolfshag underground development. Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2024 totalled $3 million, primarily consisting of $2 million for Wolfshag underground development.
The Otjikoto Mine in Namibia is expected to produce between 165,000 and 185,000 ounces of gold in 2025 at cash operating costs of between $695 and $755 per ounce and all-in sustaining costs of between $980 and $1,040 per ounce. Gold production at Otjikoto will be weighted towards the first half of 2025 due to the conclusion of open pit mining activities in the third quarter of 2025. For the full year 2025, Otjikoto is projected to process a total of 3.4 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 1.63 g/t gold with a process gold recovery of 98.0%. Processed ore will be sourced from the Otjikoto pit and the Wolfshag underground mine, supplemented by existing ore stockpiles. Open pit mining operations are scheduled to conclude in the third quarter of 2025, while underground mining operations at Wolfshag are expected to continue into 2027. In addition to the economic potential of the Antelope discovery discussed above, exploration results received to date indicate the potential to extend underground production at Wolfshag past 2027.
Capital expenditures in 2025 at Otjikoto are expected to total $39 million, a small increase from total estimated capital expenditures in 2024. Approximately $29 million are expected to be classified as sustaining capital expenditures and $10 million are expected to be classified as non-sustaining capital expenditures. Sustaining capital expenditures are expected to include $16 million for underground development, $7 million for TSF construction, and $6 million for mobile equipment replacement and rebuilds. Non-sustaining capital expenditures are expected to include approximately $10 million to initiate Antelope deposit development.
Investment in Calibre
On January 24, 2024, Calibre completed its acquisition of Marathon Gold Corp. and issued 249,813,422 Calibre common shares reducing B2Gold's ownership interest in Calibre to approximately 15%. As a result of the acquisition, Calibre acquired a 100% interest in the advanced-stage Valentine Gold Project in Newfoundland & Labrador.
On June 20, 2024, the Company completed the sale of an aggregate 79,000,000 common shares of Calibre in the ordinary course for investment purposes by way of a block trade for aggregate gross proceeds of $100 million (C$139 million). Immediately prior to the Calibre Transaction, B2Gold owned 110,950,333 common shares of Calibre representing approximately 14.1% of Calibre. As a result of the Calibre Transaction, B2Gold’s ownership decreased to approximately 4.4% and the Company no longer had the right to a nominee to the Board of Directors of Calibre. The Company determined that it no longer had significant influence over Calibre and stopped equity accounting for Calibre effective June 20, 2024. In the second half of 2024, the Company disposed of its remaining 32 million share interest for proceeds of $58 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company's estimate of its share of Calibre's net income based on publicly available information was approximately $5 million.
Attributable share of Calibre production and costs
Based on Calibre's production press release dated July 9, 2024, consolidated production of Calibre for the first half of 2024 was 120,521 ounces of which the Company's attributable share was 19,644 ounces.
Goose Project - Canada
The Back River Gold District consists of eight mineral claims blocks along an 80 km belt. The most advanced project in the district, Goose, is fully permitted, construction is underway, and has been de-risked with significant infrastructure currently in place. B2Gold’s management team has strong northern construction expertise and the experience to deliver the fully permitted Goose Project and the financial resources to develop the significant gold resource endowment at the Back River Gold District into a large, long life mining complex.
B2Gold recognizes that respect and collaboration with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association ("KIA") is central to the license to operate in the Back River Gold District and will continue to prioritize developing the Project in a manner that recognizes Inuit priorities, addresses concerns and brings long-term socio-economic benefits to the Kitikmeot Region. B2Gold looks forward to continuing to build on its strong collaboration with the KIA and Kitikmeot communities.
At the Back River Gold District, B2Gold operates a sealift program in the summer months that delivers construction and operating materials to the MLA in Bathurst Inlet, Nunavut. An approximately 162 km WIR is constructed by contractors, under B2Gold's management, on an annual basis between December and February. The materials are then transported from the MLA to the Goose Project via the WIR during the months of March and April (the “WIR Campaign").
The 2024 WIR Campaign was completed on April 30, 2024, and the Company successfully delivered all necessary materials required to complete construction of the Goose Project. Materials shipped from the MLA to the Goose Project site during the 2024 WIR Campaign exceeded 2,100 standard total loads, including 400 loads of diesel fuel. Under B2Gold management, the 2,100 standard loads completed during the 2024 WIR Campaign was approximately double the loads completed during the 2023 WIR Campaign.
All planned construction activities in 2024 were completed and project construction and development continue to progress on track for first gold pour at the Goose Project in the second quarter of 2025 followed by ramp up to commercial production in the third quarter of 2025. The Company continues to estimate that gold production in calendar year 2025 will be between 120,000 and 150,000 ounces and that average annual gold production for the six year period from 2026 to 2031 inclusive will be approximately 310,000 ounces per year, with the latest published Mineral Reserves supporting a long mine life beyond 2031. The Company remains on track to complete B2Gold’s initial Goose Project life of mine plan based on updated Mineral Reserves by the end of the first quarter of 2025.
Following the successful completion of the 2024 sea lift, the construction of the 2025 WIR is complete and the WIR opened February 18, 2025, allowing for the transportation of all materials from the MLA to the Goose Project site to be completed by May 15, 2025.
Development of the open pit and underground remain the Company’s primary focus to ensure that adequate material is available for mill startup and that the Echo pit is available for tailings placement. Mining of the Echo pit continues to meet production targets and is anticipated to be ready to receive tailings when the mill starts. The Umwelt underground development remains on schedule for commencement of production by the end of the second quarter of 2025.
In the fourth quarter of 2024 and year ended December 31, 2024, the Company incurred cash expenditures of $149 million (C$209 million) and $515 million (C$707 million), respectively, for the Goose Project on construction and mine development activities and $40 million (C$55 million) and $195 million (C$266 million), respectively on supplies inventory.
Total Goose Project Construction and Mine Development cash expenditures before first gold production estimate is now C$1,540 million, a C$290 million (or 23%) increase from the previous estimate. Approximately 52% (or C$150 million) of the increase in the estimated total Goose Project Construction and Mine Development Cost before first gold production can be attributed to the one quarter delay in first gold production previously disclosed, combined with the acceleration of capital items that were previously anticipated to occur after first gold production.
Additionally, prior to first production, the Company anticipates spending approximately C$330 million to build up working capital and stockpiles at site, which further de-risks the ramp up of the operation, and will reduce operating cash expenditures in future years.
Fekola Complex - Fekola Mine and Fekola Regional Development
The Fekola Complex is comprised of the Fekola Mine (Medinandi permit hosting the Fekola and Cardinal pits and Fekola underground) and Fekola Regional (Anaconda Area (Bantako, Menankoto and Bakolobi permits) and the Dandoko permit).
The development of Fekola Regional is expected to demonstrate positive economics through the enhancement of the overall production profile and the extension of mine life of the Fekola Complex. Trucking of higher-grade open-pit ore from Fekola
Regional to the Fekola mill is expected to contribute approximately 180,000 ounces per year of additional annual gold production in its first four full years of production from 2026 to 2029.
Gramalote Project - Colombia
The Gramalote Project is located in central Colombia, approximately 230 km northwest of Bogota and 100 km northeast of Medellin, in the Province of Antioquia, which has expressed a positive attitude towards the development of responsible mining projects in the region. Based on the preliminary results completed in 2022 of the contemplated large-scale project with AngloGold, the project did not meet the combined investment return thresholds for development by both 50% ownership partners, B2Gold and AngloGold. As a result, B2Gold and AngloGold explored alternatives for the project which resulted in B2Gold acquiring AngloGold’s 50% interest in the Gramalote Project, resulting in a sole owner of the Gramalote Project for the first time in recent history. Post consolidation, B2Gold completed a detailed review of the Gramalote Project, including the higher-grade core of the resource, facility size and location, power supply, mining and processing options, tailings design, resettlement, potential construction sequencing and camp design to identify potential cost savings to develop a medium-scale project. The results of the review allowed the Company to determine the optimal parameters and assumptions for the Gramalote PEA.
The Gramalote PEA, with an effective date of April 1, 2024, was prepared by B2Gold and evaluates recovery of gold from an open pit mining operation that will move up to approximately 97,000 tonnes per day (“tpd”) (35.3 Mtpa), with an approximately 16,500 tpd (6.0 Mtpa) processing plant that includes crushing, grinding, flotation, with fine grinding of the flotation concentrate and agitated leaching of the flotation concentrate followed by a carbon-in-pulp recovery process to process doré bullion. The Mineral Resource estimate for the Gramalote Project that forms the basis for the Gramalote PEA includes Indicated Mineral Resources of 192.2 million tonnes grading 0.68 g/t gold for a total of 4,210,000 ounces of gold and Inferred Mineral Resources of 85.4 million tonnes grading 0.54 g/t gold for a total of 1,480,000 ounces of gold.
Based on the positive results from the Gramalote PEA, B2Gold believes that the Gramalote Project has the potential to become a medium-scale, low-cost, open pit gold mine. The Gramalote Project has several key infrastructure advantages, including:
•Reliable water supply – high rainfall region and located next to the Nus River;
•Adjacent to a national highway, which connects directly to Medellin and to a major river with port facilities, capable of bringing supplies by barge to within 70 km of the site; and
•Skilled labour workforce within Colombia.
In addition, B2Gold expects the Gramalote Project to benefit from several key operational advantages, including:
•Excellent metallurgical characteristics of the ore, which results in high recovery rates at low processing costs;
•Relatively low strip ratio (3.3:1 strip ratio over the Life of Project); and
•Ability to mine and process higher-grade ore in the initial years of the mine life resulting in improved project economics.
The Gramalote PEA is subject to a number of assumptions and risks, including among others that a Modified Environmental Impact Study will be approved, all required permits, permit amendments and other rights will be obtained in a timely manner, the Gramalote Project will have the support of the local government and community, the regulatory environment will remain consistent, that Gramalote can operate under a single company free trade zone in Colombia, and no material increase will have occurred to the estimated costs.
The Gramalote PEA is preliminary in nature and includes a small amount of Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the Gramalote PEA based on these Mineral Resources will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
B2Gold has commenced feasibility work with the goal of completing a feasibility study by mid-2025. Due to the work completed for previous studies, the work remaining to finalize a feasibility study for the updated medium-scale project is not extensive. The main work programs for the feasibility study include geotechnical and environmental site investigations for the processing plant and waste dump footprints, as well as capital and operating cost estimates. Those work programs, as well as processing engineering and site infrastructure design, are underway and the study is on schedule.
The Gramalote Project will continue to advance resettlement programs, establish coexistence programs for small miners, work on health, safety and environmental projects and continue to work with the government and local communities on social programs.
Due to the desired modifications to the processing plant and infrastructure locations, a Modified Environmental Impact Study is required. B2Gold has commenced work on the modifications to the Environmental Impact Study and expect it to be completed and submitted shortly following the completion of the feasibility study. If the final economics of the feasibility study are positive and B2Gold makes the decision to develop the Gramalote Project as an open pit gold mine, B2Gold would utilize its proven internal mine construction team to build the mine and mill facilities.
Capital expenditures in 2025 at Gramalote are expected to be relatively consistent throughout the year, totaling $28 million related primarily to feasibility study costs and ongoing care and maintenance.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
B2Gold continues to maintain a strong financial position and liquidity. At December 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $337 million compared to cash and cash equivalents of $307 million at December 31, 2023. Working capital (defined as current assets less current liabilities) at December 31, 2024 was $321 million compared to $397 million at December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2024, the Company had $400 million drawn on the Company's $800 million RCF with $400 million remaining available for future draw downs. Subsequent to December 31, 2024, the RCF balance was repaid using funds raised from the issuance of convertible senior unsecured Notes in January 2025 (see below).
In January 2024, B2Gold entered into a Gold Prepay with a number of its existing lenders. The Company received an upfront payment of $500 million, based on gold forward curve prices averaging approximately $2,191 per ounce, in exchange for equal monthly deliveries of gold from July 2025 to June 2026 totaling 264,768 ounces, representing approximately 12% of expected annual gold production in each of 2025 and 2026 (subject to finalization of production guidance for 2026). Gold deliveries can be from production from any of the Company’s operating mines and the Gold Prepay can be settled prior to maturity through accelerated delivery of the remaining deliverable gold ounces. The Gold Prepay was executed by Bank of Montreal, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, ING Capital Markets LLC, and National Bank of Canada.
On December 17, 2024, B2Gold completed the renewal of its RCF, increasing the total available amount from $700 million to $800 million, plus a $200 million accordion feature. The RCF was completed with a syndicate of banks: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, ING Bank N.V., The Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank of Montreal, National Bank of Canada, HSBC Bank USA, National Association and Citibank N.A., Canadian Branch.
Draw downs on the RCF can be in either United States or Canadian dollars. The RCF bears interest on a sliding scale based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) or the Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average ("CORRA") plus term credit spread adjustment in addition to a sliding scale premium between 1.88% to 2.50% based on the Company's net leverage ratio. Commitment fees for the undrawn portion of the facility are also on a sliding scale basis between 0.42% and 0.563% based on the Company's net leverage ratio. The term of the RCF is four years, maturing on December 17, 2028.
The Company has provided security on the RCF in the form of a general security interest over the Company’s assets and pledges creating a charge over the shares of certain of the Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries. In connection with the RCF, the Company must also maintain certain ratios for leverage and interest coverage. As at December 31, 2024, the Company was in compliance with these debt covenants.
Pursuant to the terms of the new RCF, the Company implemented a gold hedging program structured to achieve a minimum cumulative financial settlement of $220 million relative to an assumed refined gold market price of $1,750 per ounce and 20% of the Company's forecasted production volumes for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 per the most recent life-of-mine plan consolidated projected gold production and shall maintain such gold hedging program (allowing, however, for the wind down of the program in the ordinary course) until the earlier of the date such hedging program has achieved a minimum cumulative financial settlement of $220 million and December 31, 2026.
On January 28, 2025, the Company issued Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $460 million. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 2.75% per annum, payable semi-annually on February 1st and August 1st of each year commencing from August 1, 2025. The Notes mature on February 1, 2030. The initial conversion rate for the Notes is 315.2088 Shares per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $3.17 per Share. The initial conversion rate represents a premium of approximately 35% relative to closing sale price of the Shares on January 23, 2025 and is subject to adjustment in certain events. B2Gold has the right to redeem the Notes in certain circumstances and holders have the right to require B2Gold to repurchase their Notes upon the occurrence of certain events. The Notes are our senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The Notes are effectively subordinated to all of the Company's existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. The Notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities, including trade payables, of the Company's subsidiaries.
In connection with the notes, B2Gold completed a cash settled total return swap with respect to approximately $50 million of Shares which were purchased by one of the initial purchasers of the Notes. The total return swap is intended to give B2Gold economic exposure to its Shares during the term of the total return swap, which is expected to be approximately one month. Such purchases may have the effect of increasing (or reducing the size of any decrease in) the market price of the Shares. Any unwind of such hedge positions, including at settlement of the total return swap, may have the effect of decreasing (or reducing the size of any increase in) the market price of the Shares or the Notes.
The Company has a gold stream arrangement with Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. with a deposit amount of $84 million. The delivery obligation is as follows:
•2.7805% of gold production up to delivery of 87,100 oz;
•1.4405% of gold production up to an aggregate of 134,000 oz; and
•1.005% of gold production thereafter.
The Company has guaranteed the remaining portion of the gold stream obligation.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, capital expenditures totalled $918 million. The most significant expenditures were Fekola Mine expenditures of $258 million, Masbate Mine expenditures of $30 million, Otjikoto Mine expenditures of $29 million, Goose Project expenditures of $515 million, Fekola Regional pre-development expenditures of $17 million and Gramalote Project expenditures of $17 million (refer to “Review of Mining Operations and Development Projects" section for additional details of capital expenditures). Exploration costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 totalled $53 million.
As at December 31, 2024, and in addition to those commitments disclosed elsewhere in this MD&A, the Company had the following commitments:
•For payments of $13 million for mobile equipment purchases and rebuilds, $1 million for the tailings storage facility, $1 million for underground development, $1 million related to plant and powerhouse maintenance and $1 million for other capital projects at the Fekola Mine, all of which is expected to be incurred in 2025.
•For payments of $21 million for construction activities at the Goose Project, all of which is expected to be incurred in 2025.
For 2025, the Company has budgeted total capital expenditures of $234 million at the Fekola Complex, $47 million at the Masbate Mine, $39 million at the Otjikoto Mine and $28 million at the Gramalote Project. For the first half of 2025, the Company has budgeted total capital expenditures of $178 million at the Goose Project. Capital expenditure guidance for the second half of 2025 for the Goose Project will be released in the second quarter of 2025 (prior to the commencement of initial production), after publication in the first quarter of 2025 of B2Gold’s initial Goose Project life of mine plan based on updated Mineral Reserves. The Company’s total 2025 exploration budget is approximately $61 million.
As at December 31, 2024, the Company’s significant commitments are disclosed in the table below:
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | Post 2029 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| (000's) | (000's) | (000's) | (000's) | (000's) | (000's) | (000's) | |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 156,352 | — | — | — | — | — | 156,352 |
| RCF: | |||||||
| Principal | — | — | — | 400,000 | — | — | 400,000 |
| Interest & commitment fees (estimated) | 27,959 | 27,053 | 27,053 | 25,997 | — | — | 108,062 |
| Fekola equipment loan facilities: | |||||||
| Principal | 7,162 | 1,554 | 1,554 | 1,554 | 1,549 | — | 13,373 |
| Interest (estimated) | 608 | 373 | 277 | 181 | 84 | — | 1,523 |
| Goose Project equipment loan facilities: | |||||||
| Principal | 2,917 | 672 | — | — | — | — | 3,589 |
| Interest (estimated) | 95 | 35 | — | — | — | — | 130 |
| Lease liabilities | |||||||
| Principal | 6,548 | 5,453 | 3,771 | 2,388 | 2,378 | 8,748 | 29,286 |
| Capital expenditure commitments | 38,148 | — | — | — | — | — | 38,148 |
| Mine restoration provisions | 7,401 | 1,253 | 1,253 | — | — | 176,909 | 186,816 |
| Employee benefits obligation | 5,748 | 1,703 | 475 | 4,800 | 47 | 14,084 | 26,857 |
| Other liabilities | 1,947 | 5,997 | — | 5,207 | 5,311 | 3,332 | 21,794 |
| 254,885 | 44,093 | 34,383 | 440,127 | 9,369 | 203,073 | 985,930 |
The Company accrues mine restoration provisions over the life of its mining operations and amounts shown are estimated expenditures in the indicated years at their undiscounted values.
The Company believes that its future cash flows from operations along with the undrawn and available balances on its current facilities will allow it to meet its current obligations as they come due.
Derivative financial instruments
Gold collars
During the year ended December 31, 2024, as a requirement of the RCF, the Company entered into a series of 1:1 zero-cost put/call collar contracts for gold with settlement between February 2025 and January 2027. These derivative instruments were not designated as hedges by the Company and were recorded at FVTPL.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ounces | 187,010 | 200,006 | 16,637 | 403,653 | ||||
| Average floor price | $ | 2,450 | $ | 2,450 | $ | 2,450 | $ | 2,450 |
| Average ceiling price | $ | 3,294 | $ | 3,294 | $ | 3,294 | $ | 3,294 |
The unrealized fair value of these contracts at December 31, 2024 was $0 million.
Fuel contracts – fuel oil, gas oil, diesel
The Company uses forward contracts for fuel oil, gas oil and diesel to manage the risk of volatility in the Company's future operating costs. The Company reviews the open positions and the potential for additional forward contracts on an ongoing basis. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company entered into an additional series of forward contracts for the purchase of 62 million litres of gas oil and 63 million litres of fuel oil with scheduled settlement between August 2024 and July 2026. These derivative instruments were not designated as hedges by the Company and were recorded at FVTPL. These derivative instruments were not designated as hedges by the Company and are recorded at their fair value at the end of each reporting period with changes in fair value recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
The following is a summary, by maturity dates, of the Company’s fuel derivative contracts outstanding as at December 31, 2024:
| 2025 | 2026 | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward – fuel oil: | ||||||
| Litres (thousands) | 35,027 | 14,447 | 49,474 | |||
| Average strike price | $ | 0.44 | $ | 0.43 | $ | 0.43 |
| Forward – gas oil: | ||||||
| Litres (thousands) | 36,216 | 8,189 | 44,405 | |||
| Average strike price | $ | 0.60 | $ | 0.59 | $ | 0.60 |
The unrealized fair value of these contracts at December 31, 2024 was $(2) million.
Operating activities
Cash flow provided by operating activities was $878 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $714 million during 2023, an increase of $164 million, due mainly to $500 million of proceeds received from the Gold Prepay in January 2024, partially offset by lower gold revenues, higher production costs, higher long-term inventory outflows and higher working capital outflows. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company paid $360 million (2023 - $239 million) of current income tax, withholding and other taxes in cash, including $95 million related to 2023 outstanding tax liability obligations and $70 million for settlement of income tax assessments as part of the Fekola Mine MOU Agreement signed with the State of Mali in September 2024. Based on current assumptions, including an average gold price of $2,250 per ounce for 2025, the Company is forecasting to make total cash income tax payments for current income tax, withholding and other taxes in 2025 of approximately $206 million.
Financing activities
The Company’s cash used by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 was a net outflow of $69 million. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company repaid the $200 million balance drawn on the RCF, made draw downs totalling $450 million on its RCF, made interest and commitment fee payments of $12 million, made a drawdown of $8 million on equipment loans, made equipment loan facility repayments of $11 million, made principal payments on lease arrangements of $7 million, raised $10 million from a flow-through share issuance, made dividend payments of $185 million and distributed $123 million to non-controlling interests.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, Board declared cash dividends for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2024 of $0.04 per common share each (or $0.16 per share on an annualized basis). On January 13, 2025, the Company announced amendments to its shareholder returns strategy to increase financial flexibility as it completes its current phase of organic growth, including the anticipated commencement of initial production from Fekola Regional in Mali, the completion of construction of the Goose Mine in Nunavut, Canada, the development of the Antelope deposit at the Otjikoto Mine in Namibia, and de-risking activities at the Gramalote Project in Colombia. Management and the Board have completed a comprehensive review of its existing dividend level and approved a change in its intended quarterly dividend rate from $0.04 per common share ($0.16 per common share on an annualized basis) to $0.02 per common share ($0.08 per common share on an annualized basis). Based on the Company’s funding requirements, including completing construction of the Goose Mine (which remains on schedule and on budget to the current timeline and total construction cost estimate as outlined in B2Gold’s September 12, 2024 news release), advancing development of the Antelope deposit at the Otjikoto Mine, de-risking activities at the Gramalote Project in Colombia, combined with the upcoming delivery of 264,768 gold ounces from July 2025 to June 2026 to satisfy the Gold Prepay, the Company determined that modifying the quarterly dividend level to $0.02 per common share is commensurate to the current growth phase of the Company and provides additional financial flexibility to advance and complete its organic growth opportunities, while still providing shareholders with a sustainable dividend moving forward. Returning capital to shareholders remains a foundational element of B2Gold’s capital allocation philosophy. The declaration and payment of future dividends and the amount of any such dividends will be subject to the determination of the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, taking into account, among other things, economic conditions, business performance, financial condition, growth plans, expected capital requirements, compliance with B2Gold's constating documents, all applicable laws, including the rules and policies of any applicable stock exchange, as well as any contractual restrictions on such dividends, including any agreements entered into with lenders to the Company, and any other factors that the Board deems appropriate at the relevant time. There can be no assurance that any dividends will be paid at the revised intended rate or at all in the future.
The Company has a dividend reinvestment plan ("DRIP"). The DRIP provides B2Gold shareholders residing in Canada and the United States with the opportunity to have the cash dividends declared on all or some of their common shares automatically reinvested into Reinvestment Shares on an ongoing basis. Participation in the DRIP is optional and will not affect shareholders’ cash dividends unless they elect to participate in the DRIP. Dividends are only payable as and when declared by the Company’s Board of Directors. The benefits of enrolling in the DRIP include the convenience of automatic reinvestment of dividends into Reinvestment Shares; flexibility to enroll some or all common shares in the DRIP; and ability to acquire Reinvestment Shares without paying any brokerage fees. Participants in the DRIP will acquire Reinvestment Shares issued from a Treasury Purchase at a price equal to the volume weighted average price of the Company’s common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the five consecutive trading days immediately preceding a dividend payment date, subject to a possible discount, in the Company’s sole discretion, of up to 5%. For the dividends declared in 2024, a discount of 3% was offered. There is no assurance that such discount or any other discount will be offered in 2025.
This dividend is designated as an "eligible dividend" for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada). Dividends paid by B2Gold to shareholders outside Canada (non-resident investors) will be subject to Canadian non-resident withholding taxes.
Investing activities
For the year ended December 31, 2024, capital expenditures totalled $918 million. The most significant expenditures were Fekola Mine expenditures of $258 million, Masbate Mine expenditures of $30 million, Otjikoto Mine expenditures of $29 million, Goose Project expenditures of $515 million, Fekola Regional pre-development expenditures of $17 million and Gramalote Project expenditures of $17 million (refer to “Review of Mining Operations and Development Projects" section for additional details of capital expenditures). Exploration costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 totalled $53 million. In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company received cash proceeds from the sale of the investment in associate of $100 million, received cash proceeds from the sale of long-term investments of $93 million, received cash proceeds from the sale of mining interest of $8 million, purchased additional shares in associates for $9 million, purchased long-term investments for $17 million, purchased short-term investments for $16 million and redeemed short-term investments for $5 million.
Exploration
Resource property expenditures on exploration are disclosed in the table below:
| For the three months ended December 31, 2024 | For the three months ended December 31, 2023 | For the year ended December 31, 2024 | For the year ended December 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| (000’s) | (000’s) | (000’s) | (000’s) | |
| Fekola Mine, exploration | 1,292 | 2,022 | 4,428 | 3,728 |
| Masbate Mine, exploration | 610 | 1,067 | 3,649 | 3,808 |
| Otjikoto Mine, exploration | 2,634 | 1,410 | 7,825 | 3,863 |
| Menankoto Property, exploration | 805 | 862 | 805 | 12,262 |
| Bantako North Property, exploration | — | 832 | — | 9,523 |
| Bakolobi Property, exploration | — | 1,007 | 344 | 8,665 |
| Dandoko Property, exploration | 948 | 350 | 1,279 | 6,097 |
| Goose Project, exploration | 6,335 | 6,395 | 28,864 | 10,595 |
| George Property, exploration | (148) | 468 | 9 | 5,131 |
| Finland Properties, exploration | 359 | 2,019 | 3,079 | 7,181 |
| Other | 630 | 1,260 | 2,347 | 5,152 |
| 13,465 | 17,692 | 52,629 | 76,005 |
B2Gold executed another year of aggressive exploration in 2024 incurring $61 million (including $8 million of target generation costs included in other operating expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations) compared to a budget of $63 million. Exploration in 2024 was focused predominantly on the Back River Gold District, with the goal of enhancing and growing the significant resource base at the Goose Project and surrounding regional targets. In Namibia, the exploration program at the Otjikoto Mine was the largest program since 2012, with a focus on drilling the recently discovered Antelope deposit. In Mali, the exploration program was directed at a more strategic search for near-mine, near-surface sources of additional sulphide-related gold mineralization. In the Philippines, the exploration program at Masbate focused on drilling targets immediately south of mine infrastructure.
B2Gold is planning another year of extensive exploration in 2025 with a budget of approximately $61 million. A significant focus will be on exploration at the Back River Gold District, with the continued goal of enhancing and growing the significant resource base at the Goose Project and surrounding regional targets. In Namibia, the exploration program at the Otjikoto Mine will be focused on enhancing and increasing the resources at the Antelope deposit. In Mali, an ongoing focus will be on discovery of additional high-grade, sulphide mineralization across the Fekola Complex. In the Philippines, the exploration program at Masbate will continue to focus on new targets located south of the Masbate Mine infrastructure. Early-stage exploration programs will continue in the Philippines, Cote d’Ivoire and Kazakhstan in 2025. Finally, the search for new joint ventures and strategic investment opportunities will continue, building on existing equity investments in Snowline Gold Corp., Founders Metals Inc., AuMEGA Metals Ltd., and Prospector Metals Corp.
Goose Project Exploration
A total of $28 million was budgeted for exploration at the Back River Gold District in 2024 to complete approximately 25,000 m of drilling, including confirmation drilling at the Umwelt deposit, as well as exploration drilling at several Goose Project regional targets that were developed based on structural modelling and geophysical re-processing. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company ultimately incurred $29 million on Back River Gold District exploration and completed 26,209 m of drilling over 69 drill holes at the Goose Project. This included 14,480 m over 39 drill holes at the Umwelt deposit, 4,231 m over 15 drill holes at the Llama deposit area, 7,361 m over 14 exploration target drill holes, and 137 m over one metallurgical hole at the Goose Main deposit.
2025 Guidance for Canada Exploration
A total of $32 million is budgeted for exploration at the Back River Gold District in 2025, of which $21 million is planned for the more advanced Goose Project. A total of 12,000 m of drilling will target extensions of the Llama and Umwelt deposits, the largest and highest-grade resources at the Goose Project. In addition, follow up drilling of significant results returned at the Nuvuyak, Mammoth and Hook targets are planned.
Regional exploration including geophysics, mapping, prospecting and till sampling will be undertaken on the George, Boot, Boulder, Del, Beech and Needle projects. This regional work will also include an estimated 13,000 m of diamond drilling to follow up drill ready targets defined during the 2024 summer regional exploration program. A significantly increased budget of $11 million is being allocated for the regional projects.
Mali Exploration
A total of $10 million was budgeted for exploration in Mali in 2024 with an ongoing focus on discovery of additional high-grade, sulphide mineralization across the Fekola Complex to supplement feed to the Fekola mill. In addition, the FNE target immediately north of the main Fekola open pit was drilled, adding easily accessible resources close to Fekola infrastructure. A total of 20,000 m of diamond and reverse circulation drilling was planned for 2024. A total of 19,920 m over 192 holes of diamond and reverse circulation drilling was completed. In addition, 8,877 m of auger drilling was completed during the year ended December 31, 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company ultimately incurred $11 million on Mali exploration.
2025 Guidance Mali Exploration
A total of $9 million is budgeted for exploration in Mali in 2025 with an ongoing focus on discovery of additional high-grade, sulphide mineralization across the Fekola Complex to supplement feed to the Fekola mill. A total of 16,000 m of diamond and reverse circulation drilling is planned for Mali in 2025.
The Philippines Exploration
The total budget for the Philippines in 2024 was approximately $6 million, of which the Masbate exploration budget was $4 million, including approximately 7,000 m of drilling. The 2024 exploration program focused on drilling several greenfields targets between 3 km and 12 km south of the Masbate Mine infrastructure. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company incurred $4 million for Masbate Mine exploration, which was in-line with the budget (included approximately 5,464 m of diamond and reverse circulation drilling in 25 holes).
An additional $2 million was allocated to targeting new regional projects in highly prospective areas in the Philippines, leveraging off B2Gold’s presence and operational experience in the country. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company incurred $1 million on targeting new regional projects.
2025 Guidance for The Philippines Exploration
The total budget for the Philippines in 2025 is approximately $5 million, of which the Masbate exploration budget is $3 million, including approximately 4,200 m of drilling. The 2025 exploration program will continue to focus on exploration of new regional targets located south of the main mine infrastructure at Masbate.
An additional $2 million will be allocated to targeting new regional projects in highly prospective areas in the Philippines, leveraging off B2Gold’s presence and operational experience in the country. A total of 2,000 m is allocated to testing new projects.
Namibia Exploration
A total of $9 million was budgeted for exploration at Otjikoto in 2024, the largest program since the definition of the Wolfshag discovery in 2012. The focus of the exploration program was drilling the recently discovered Antelope deposit, located approximately 3 km south of Phase 5 of the Otjikoto open pit, with a total of 39,000 metres of drilling planned. The Antelope deposit, comprised of the Springbok Zone, the Oryx Zone, and a possible third structure, Impala, subject to confirmatory drilling, was discovered in 2022 following deep drill testing by B2Gold exploration personnel on three-dimensional models of airborne magnetic data. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company incurred $8 million, which included 45,666 m of diamond and reverse circulation drilling at the Otjikoto mine area.
On June 20, 2024, the Company announced an initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate for the Springbok Zone, the southernmost shoot of the recently discovered Antelope deposit.
The Company determined that the initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 1.75 million tonnes grading 6.91 g/t gold for a total of 390,000 ounces of gold ounces was sufficient to initiate a PEA of development of the deposit by underground mining methods, similar to the Wolfshag deposit. Inferred Mineral Resources are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that these Inferred Mineral Resources will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. On February 4, 2025, the Company announced the positive PEA results for the Antelope deposit. Based on the positive results from the PEA, B2Gold believes that the Antelope deposit has the potential to become a small-scale, low-cost, underground gold mine that can supplement the low-grade stockpile production during the period of 2028 to 2032 and result in a meaningful production profile for Otjikoto into the next decade.
Ongoing drilling at the Springbok Zone remains open to the south and north, indicating additional exploration potential beyond the currently defined resource. For example, the Oryx Zone, which appears to represent a second shoot northeast of and stacked stratigraphically above the Springbok Zone, has returned high-grade intervals that demonstrate the potential to increase the Mineral Resource estimate.
2025 Guidance for Namibia Exploration
A total of $7 million is budgeted for exploration at Otjikoto in 2025. The focus of the exploration program will be drilling to expand and refine the recently discovered Antelope deposit, located approximately 3 km south of Phase 5 of the Otjikoto open pit, with a total of 44,000 m of drilling planned.
Greenfield Exploration
B2Gold allocated approximately $13 million (including $2 million for the grassroots projects in the Philippines) in 2024 for its grassroots exploration programs, including Finland and Cote d’Ivoire. The spend ultimately incurred on greenfield exploration for the year ended December 31, 2024 was approximately $5 million.
A budget of approximately $3 million was allocated by the Company for ongoing exploration in Cote d’Ivoire. During the year ended December 31, 2024, $2 million was spent to complete 1,000 m of diamond drilling.
In addition to the defined programs noted above, the Company allocated approximately $8 million for the generation and evaluation of new greenfields targets of which $3 million was spent during the year ended December 31, 2024.
2025 Guidance for Greenfields Exploration
B2Gold has allocated approximately $9 million to other grassroots exploration projects in 2025. This includes $2 million (7,200 m) in Kazakhstan, $2 million in Finland, and $1 million (1,000 m) in Cote d’Ivoire. In addition to the defined programs noted above, the Company has allocated approximately $4 million for the generation and evaluation of new greenfield targets.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Full disclosure of the Company’s accounting policies and significant accounting judgments and estimation uncertainties in accordance with IFRS can be found in Notes 4 and 5 of its audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024. Management considers the following estimates to be the most critical in understanding the judgements involved in preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the uncertainties that could impact its results of operations, financial condition and cash flows:
Mineral reserve and resource estimates
Mineral reserves are estimates of the amount of ore that can be economically and legally extracted from the Company’s mining properties. The Company estimates its mineral reserves and mineral resources based on information compiled by appropriately qualified persons relating to the geological data on the size, depth and shape of the ore body, and requires complex geological assessments to interpret the data. The estimation of recoverable mineral reserves is based upon factors such as estimates of foreign exchange rates, commodity prices, future capital requirements, metallurgical recoveries, permitting and production costs along with geological assumptions made in estimating the size, and grade of the ore body. Changes in the mineral reserve or mineral resource estimates may impact the carrying value of mining interests, mine restoration provisions, the gold stream obligation, recognition of deferred tax assets, depreciation and amortization charges and royalties receivable.
Assessment of impairment and reversal of impairment indicators for long-lived assets
The Company applies significant judgement in assessing whether there are indicators of impairment or impairment reversal present that give rise to the requirement to conduct an impairment test. Internal and external factors such as significant changes in the use of the asset, legal and permitting factors, future gold prices, operating and capital cost forecasts, quantities of mineral reserves and resources, and movements in market interest rates are used by management in determining whether there are any indicators.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company identified changes to the indicators of impairment on the Fekola Complex cash generating unit ("CGU"), consisting of the Fekola Mine and Fekola Regional Properties, and the Goose Project CGU. As a result, these assets were tested for impairment. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company identified indicators of impairment on the Fekola Complex CGU and the Gramalote Project. As a result, these assets were tested for impairment.
Impairment of long-lived assets
Long-lived assets are tested for impairment, or reversal of a previous impairment, if there is an indicator of impairment or a subsequent reversal. Calculating the estimated recoverable amount of CGUs for long-lived assets requires management to make estimates and assumptions that include such factors as mineable mineralization including reserves and resources, future production levels, operating and capital costs, application of royalty, income tax and mining tax rates, future metal prices and discount rates. Changes in any of these assumptions or estimates used in determining the recoverable amount could impact the analysis. Such changes could be material.
Goose Project CGU
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company completed an updated construction cost estimate for the Goose Project. The updated estimate showed a significant increase in the expected construction cost to complete was determined to be an indicator of impairment for the Goose Project assets. As a result, the Company performed an impairment assessment on the Goose Project CGU. The carrying value of the CGU was compared to the CGU’s recoverable amount which was determined to be its fair value less costs of disposal ("FVLCD"). To estimate the recoverable amount of the CGU for impairment, the Company utilized a discounted cash flow model incorporating significant assumptions that included such factors as mineable mineralization including resources, future production levels, operating and capital costs, long-term gold price of $1,900 per ounce, and a discount rate of 6% for the Goose Project. Management’s estimate of the FVLCD of its CGU is classified as level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s estimate of future cash flows is subject to risks and uncertainties and therefore could change in the future if the underlying assumptions change.
The Company’s analysis concluded that the Goose Project CGU was impaired resulting in an impairment of $661 million which was recorded as an impairment charge in the Consolidated Statement of Operations during the year ended December 31, 2024.
The recoverable amount of the Goose Project CGU is most sensitive to changes in the gold price and discount rate. In isolation, a $50 per ounce decrease in the gold price would result in a reduction in the recoverable amount of the Goose Project CGU of approximately $80 million. In isolation, a 25 basis point increase in the discount rate would result in a reduction in the recoverable amount of the Goose Project CGU of approximately $23 million.
Fekola Complex CGU
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the State of Mali (the "State") introduced a new mining code (the “2023 Mining Code”) and related Local Content Law. In July 2024, the accompanying Implementation Decrees, which clarify how the provisions of the 2023 Mining Code and Local Content Law should be applied, were enacted into law. At June 30, 2024, the Company and the State remained in ongoing negotiations related to how certain components of the 2023 Mining Code should be applied to the Fekola Complex. On September 11, 2024, the Company reached a Memorandum of Understanding (the "MOU Agreement") with the State which covers the ongoing operation and governance of the Fekola Complex as well as the settlement of existing income tax, customs and other regulatory disputes covering the period 2016 to December 31, 2023 and the distribution of dividends attributed to the State of Mali up to December 31, 2023.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded an impairment of $206 million for the Fekola Complex based on the Company's best estimate of the application of the 2023 Mining Code at that date. At June 30, 2024, the known and estimated changes to the financial framework of the Fekola Complex as impacted by the 2023 Mining Code including the status of the ongoing discussions with the State were considered to be updated indicators of impairment for the Fekola Complex assets as at June 30, 2024.
As a result, at June 30, 2024, the Company performed an updated impairment assessment on the Fekola Complex CGU. The carrying value of the CGU was compared to the CGU’s recoverable amount which was determined to be its FVLCD. To estimate the recoverable amount of the CGU for impairment, the Company utilized a discounted cash flow model incorporating significant assumptions that included such factors as mineable mineralization including reserves and resources, future production levels, operating and capital costs, the expected application of fuel taxes, the expected application of revised royalty and revenue based tax rates, long-term gold price of $1,900 per ounce, and a discount rate of 7.5% for the Fekola Complex. The expected outcome of material terms of the MOU Agreement were considered in arriving at the key estimates used to determine the FVLCD for the Fekola Complex as of June 30, 2024. Management’s estimate of the FVLCD of its CGU is classified as level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s estimate of future cash flows is subject to risks and uncertainties and therefore could change in the future if the underlying assumptions change.
The Company’s analysis concluded that the Fekola Complex CGU was impaired resulting in an impairment of $215 million. A net impairment charge of $194 million after taking into account a deferred income tax recovery of $21 million was recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2024.
The recoverable amount of the Fekola Complex CGU is most sensitive to changes in the gold price and discount rate. In isolation, a $50 per ounce decrease in the gold price would result in a reduction in the recoverable amount of the Fekola
Complex CGU of approximately $96 million. In isolation, a 25 basis point increase in the discount rate would result in a reduction in the recoverable amount of the Fekola Complex CGU of approximately $12 million.
Fair value of financial instruments
The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market are determined using valuation techniques. In determining the fair value of the gold stream obligation, the Company makes significant assumptions that are based on the underlying models and the market conditions existing at both initial recognition and the end of each reporting period.
Value-added tax receivables
The Company incurs indirect taxes, including value-added tax, on purchases of goods and services at its operating mines and development projects. Indirect tax balances are recorded at their estimated recoverable amounts within current or long-term assets, net of provisions, and reflect the Company’s best estimate of their recoverability under existing tax rules in the respective jurisdictions in which they arise. Management’s assessment of recoverability considers the probable outcomes of claimed deductions and/or disputes. The provisions and balance sheet classifications made to date may be subject to change and such change may be material.
Long-term value-added tax receivables at December 31, 2024 includes amounts for the Fekola Mine of $214 million (December 31, 2023 - $137 million), for the Masbate Mine of $13 million (December 31, 2023 – $45 million), and for the Gramalote Project of $17 million (December 31, 2023 - $18 million).
Uncertain tax positions
The Company’s operations involve the application of complex tax regulations in multiple international jurisdictions. Determining the tax treatment of a transaction requires the Company to apply judgement in its interpretation of the applicable tax law. These positions are not final until accepted by the relevant tax authority. The tax treatment may change based on the result of assessments or audits by the tax authorities often years after the initial filing.
The Company recognizes and records potential liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on its assessment of the amount, or range of amounts, of tax that will be due. The Company adjusts these accruals as new information becomes available. Due to the complexity and uncertainty associated with certain tax treatments, the ultimate resolution could result in a payment that is materially different from the Company’s current estimate of the tax liabilities.
Current and deferred income taxes
The Company is periodically required to estimate the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Where applicable tax laws and regulations are either unclear or subject to varying interpretations, it is possible that changes in these estimates could occur that materially affect the amounts of deferred income tax assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities generally have a direct impact on earnings in the period that the changes occur.
Each period, the Company evaluates the likelihood of whether some portion or all of each deferred tax asset will not be realized. This evaluation is based on historic and future expected levels of taxable income and the associated repatriation of retained earnings, the pattern and timing of reversals of taxable temporary timing differences that give rise to deferred tax liabilities, and tax planning initiatives. Levels of future taxable income are affected by, among other things, metal prices, production costs, quantities of proven and probable gold reserves, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. The availability of retained earnings for distribution depends on future levels of taxable income as well as future reclamation expenditures, capital expenditures, dividends and other uses of available cash flow.
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
The exploration and development of natural resources are highly speculative in nature and the Company’s business operations, investments and prospects are subject to significant risks. For details of these risks, please refer to the risk factors set forth in the Company’s current Annual Information Form, which can be found under the Company’s corporate profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, the Company’s current Form 40-F Annual Report, which can be found on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and the Company’s other filings and submissions with securities regulators on SEDAR and EDGAR, which could materially affect the Company’s business, operations, investments and prospects and could cause actual events to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements relating to the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently considers immaterial may also impair the business, operations, investments and prospects of the Company. If any of the risks actually occur, the business of the Company may be harmed and its financial condition and results of operations may suffer significantly.
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Disclosure controls and procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are designed (a) under Canadian law, to provide reasonable assurance and (b) under U.S. law, to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted by the Company under Canadian securities legislation and the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms and include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted by the Company under Canadian securities legislation and the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As at December 31, 2024, management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in the rules of the Canadian Securities Administrators and under the Exchange Act. Based upon the results of that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that as of December 31, 2024, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Any system of internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations and may not prevent or detect misstatements. Even when the Company's system of internal control over financial reporting is determined to be effective, it can only provide reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
Management has used the criteria established in the Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) to evaluate the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
As at December 31, 2024, management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting and concluded that the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective.
The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, who have expressed their opinion in their report included with our annual consolidated financial statements.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the year ended December 31, 2024 which has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
NON-IFRS MEASURES
Cash operating costs per gold ounce sold and total cash costs per gold ounce sold
‘‘Cash operating costs per gold ounce’’ and “total cash costs per gold ounce” are common financial performance measures in the gold mining industry but, as non-IFRS measures, they do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Management believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate our performance and ability to generate cash flow. Accordingly, these measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. The measures, along with sales, are considered to be a key indicator of the Company’s ability to generate earnings and cash flow from its mining operations.
Cash cost figures are calculated on a sales basis in accordance with a standard developed by The Gold Institute, which was a worldwide association of suppliers of gold and gold products and included leading North American gold producers. The Gold Institute ceased operations in 2002, but the standard is the accepted standard of reporting cash cost of production in North America. Adoption of the standard is voluntary and the cost measures presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Other companies may calculate these measures differently. Cash operating costs and total cash costs per gold ounce sold are derived from amounts included in the statement of operations and include mine site operating costs such as mining, processing, smelting, refining, transportation costs, royalties and production taxes, less silver by-product credits. The tables below show a reconciliation of cash operating costs per gold ounce sold and total cash costs per gold ounce sold to production costs as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements on a consolidated and a mine-by-mine basis (dollars in thousands):
| For the three months ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Production costs | 107,778 | 38,392 | 35,206 | 181,376 | — | 181,376 |
| Royalties and production taxes | 37,792 | 7,381 | 5,381 | 50,554 | — | 50,554 |
| Total cash costs | 145,570 | 45,773 | 40,587 | 231,930 | — | 231,930 |
| Gold sold (ounces) | 86,453 | 51,010 | 50,330 | 187,793 | — | 187,793 |
| Cash operating costs per ounce ($/gold ounce sold) | 1,247 | 753 | 700 | 966 | — | 966 |
| Total cash costs per ounce ($/gold ounce sold) | 1,684 | 897 | 806 | 1,235 | — | 1,235 |
| For the three months ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Production costs | 82,921 | 43,733 | 37,752 | 164,406 | 17,395 | 181,801 |
| Royalties and production taxes | 20,891 | 6,185 | 5,966 | 33,042 | 1,418 | 34,460 |
| Total cash costs | 103,812 | 49,918 | 43,718 | 197,448 | 18,813 | 216,261 |
| Gold sold (ounces) | 128,321 | 53,500 | 75,100 | 256,921 | 18,059 | 274,980 |
| Cash operating costs per ounce ($/gold ounce sold) | 646 | 817 | 503 | 640 | 963 | 661 |
| Total cash costs per ounce ($/gold ounce sold) | 809 | 933 | 582 | 769 | 1,042 | 786 |
| For the year ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Production costs | 384,221 | 161,462 | 136,145 | 681,828 | 25,126 | 706,954 |
| Royalties and production taxes | 100,353 | 26,801 | 19,445 | 146,599 | 1,565 | 148,164 |
| Total cash costs | 484,574 | 188,263 | 155,590 | 828,427 | 26,691 | 855,118 |
| Gold sold (ounces) | 404,458 | 193,270 | 203,796 | 801,524 | 19,644 | 821,168 |
| Cash operating costs per ounce ($/gold ounce sold) | 950 | 835 | 668 | 851 | 1,279 | 861 |
| Total cash costs per ounce ($/gold ounce sold) | 1,198 | 974 | 763 | 1,034 | 1,359 | 1,041 |
| For the year ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Production costs | 333,215 | 160,952 | 122,030 | 616,197 | 67,766 | 683,963 |
| Royalties and production taxes | 95,576 | 23,439 | 16,688 | 135,703 | 5,053 | 140,756 |
| Total cash costs | 428,791 | 184,391 | 138,718 | 751,900 | 72,819 | 824,719 |
| Gold sold (ounces) | 588,460 | 190,800 | 214,800 | 994,060 | 68,725 | 1,062,785 |
| Cash operating costs per ounce ($/gold ounce sold) | 566 | 844 | 568 | 620 | 986 | 644 |
| Total cash costs per ounce ($/gold ounce sold) | 729 | 966 | 646 | 756 | 1,060 | 776 |
Cash operating costs per gold ounce produced
In addition to cash operating costs on a per gold ounce sold basis, the Company also presents cash operating costs on a per gold ounce produced basis. Cash operating costs per gold ounce produced is derived from amounts included in the statement of operations and include mine site operating costs such as mining, processing, smelting, refining, transportation costs, less silver by-product credits. The tables below show a reconciliation of cash operating costs per gold ounce produced to production costs as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements on a consolidated and a mine-by-mine basis (dollars in thousands):
| For the three months ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Production costs | 107,778 | 38,392 | 35,206 | 181,376 | — | 181,376 |
| Inventory sales adjustment | (7,600) | 2,950 | 3,245 | (1,405) | — | (1,405) |
| Cash operating costs | 100,178 | 41,342 | 38,451 | 179,971 | — | 179,971 |
| Gold produced (ounces) | 84,015 | 49,534 | 52,452 | 186,001 | — | 186,001 |
| Cash operating costs per ounce ($/gold ounce produced) | 1,192 | 835 | 733 | 968 | — | 968 |
| For the three months ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Production costs | 82,921 | 43,733 | 37,752 | 164,406 | 17,395 | 181,801 |
| Inventory sales adjustment | 3,618 | (1,430) | (1,160) | 1,028 | — | 1,028 |
| Cash operating costs | 86,539 | 42,303 | 36,592 | 165,434 | 17,395 | 182,829 |
| Gold produced (ounces) | 143,010 | 46,490 | 81,111 | 270,611 | 18,054 | 288,665 |
| Cash operating costs per ounce ($/gold ounce produced) | 605 | 910 | 451 | 611 | 963 | 633 |
| For the year ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Production costs | 384,221 | 161,462 | 136,145 | 681,828 | 25,126 | 706,954 |
| Inventory sales adjustment | 4,905 | 1,183 | 2,391 | 8,479 | — | 8,479 |
| Cash operating costs | 389,126 | 162,645 | 138,536 | 690,307 | 25,126 | 715,433 |
| Gold produced (ounces) | 392,946 | 194,046 | 198,142 | 785,134 | 19,644 | 804,778 |
| Cash operating costs per ounce ($/gold ounce produced) | 990 | 838 | 699 | 879 | 1,279 | 889 |
| For the year ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Production costs | 333,215 | 160,952 | 122,030 | 616,197 | 67,766 | 683,963 |
| Inventory sales adjustment | 4,161 | 5,362 | 72 | 9,595 | — | 9,595 |
| Cash operating costs | 337,376 | 166,314 | 122,102 | 625,792 | 67,766 | 693,558 |
| Gold produced (ounces) | 590,243 | 193,502 | 208,598 | 992,343 | 68,717 | 1,061,060 |
| Cash operating costs per ounce ($/ gold ounce produced) | 572 | 859 | 585 | 631 | 986 | 654 |
All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce
In June 2013, the World Gold Council, a non-regulatory association of the world’s leading gold mining companies established to promote the use of gold to industry, consumers and investors, provided guidance for the calculation of the measure “all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce”, but as a non-IFRS measure, it does not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The original World Gold Council standard became effective January 1, 2014 with further updates announced on November 16, 2018 which were effective starting January 1, 2019.
Management believes that the all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce measure provides additional insight into the costs of producing gold by capturing all of the expenditures required for the discovery, development and sustaining of gold production and allows the Company to assess its ability to support capital expenditures to sustain future production from the generation of operating cash flows. Management believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate cash flow. Accordingly, it is
intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Adoption of the standard is voluntary and the cost measures presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. The Company has applied the principles of the World Gold Council recommendations and has reported all-in sustaining costs on a sales basis. Other companies may calculate these measures differently.
B2Gold defines all-in sustaining costs per ounce as the sum of cash operating costs, royalties and production taxes, capital expenditures and exploration costs that are sustaining in nature, sustaining lease expenditures, corporate general and administrative costs, share-based payment expenses related to RSUs/DSUs/PSUs/RPUs, community relations expenditures, reclamation liability accretion and realized (gains) losses on fuel derivative contracts, all divided by the total gold ounces sold to arrive at a per ounce figure.
The tables below show a reconciliation of all-in sustaining costs per ounce to production costs as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements on a consolidated and a mine-by-mine basis (dollars in thousands):
| For the three months ended December 31, 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Corporate | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Production costs | 107,778 | 38,392 | 35,206 | — | 181,376 | — | 181,376 |
| Royalties and production taxes | 37,792 | 7,381 | 5,381 | — | 50,554 | — | 50,554 |
| Corporate administration | 3,209 | 1,168 | 1,089 | 13,628 | 19,094 | — | 19,094 |
| Share-based payments – RSUs/DSUs/PSUs/RPUs(1) | 16 | — | — | 3,532 | 3,548 | — | 3,548 |
| Community relations | 543 | 89 | 491 | — | 1,123 | — | 1,123 |
| Reclamation liability accretion | 443 | 299 | 226 | — | 968 | — | 968 |
| Realized losses on fuel derivative contracts | 465 | 255 | 83 | — | 803 | — | 803 |
| Sustaining lease expenditures | 80 | 309 | 230 | 483 | 1,102 | — | 1,102 |
| Sustaining capital expenditures(2) | 41,809 | 7,993 | 2,590 | — | 52,392 | — | 52,392 |
| Sustaining mine exploration(2) | 1,292 | 320 | 658 | — | 2,270 | — | 2,270 |
| Total all-in sustaining costs | 193,427 | 56,206 | 45,954 | 17,643 | 313,230 | — | 313,230 |
| Gold sold (ounces) | 86,453 | 51,010 | 50,330 | — | 187,793 | — | 187,793 |
| All-in sustaining cost per ounce ($/gold ounce sold) | 2,237 | 1,102 | 913 | — | 1,668 | — | 1,668 |
(1) Included as a component of Share-based payments on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(2) Refer to Sustaining capital expenditures and Sustaining mine exploration reconciliations below.
The table below shows a reconciliation of sustaining capital expenditures to operating mine capital expenditures as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements on a consolidated and a mine-by-mine basis (dollars in thousands):
| For the three months ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Operating mine capital expenditures | 59,571 | 9,534 | 2,714 | 71,819 | — | 71,819 |
| Road construction | (278) | — | — | (278) | — | (278) |
| Fekola underground | (17,484) | — | — | (17,484) | — | (17,484) |
| Other | — | — | (124) | (124) | — | (124) |
| Land acquisitions | — | (1,541) | — | (1,541) | — | (1,541) |
| Sustaining capital expenditures | 41,809 | 7,993 | 2,590 | 52,392 | — | 52,392 |
The table below shows a reconciliation of sustaining mine exploration to operating mine exploration as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements on a consolidated and a mine-by-mine basis (dollars in thousands):
| For the three months ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Operating mine exploration | 1,292 | 610 | 2,634 | 4,536 | — | 4,536 |
| Regional exploration | — | (290) | (1,976) | (2,266) | — | (2,266) |
| Sustaining mine exploration | 1,292 | 320 | 658 | 2,270 | — | 2,270 |
The tables below show a reconciliation of all-in sustaining costs per ounce to production costs as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements on a consolidated and a mine-by-mine basis (dollars in thousands):
| For the three months ended December 31, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Corporate | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Production costs | 82,921 | 43,733 | 37,752 | — | 164,406 | 17,395 | 181,801 |
| Royalties and production taxes | 20,891 | 6,185 | 5,966 | — | 33,042 | 1,418 | 34,460 |
| Corporate administration | 4,760 | 1,159 | 1,190 | 14,032 | 21,141 | 813 | 21,954 |
| Share-based payments – RSUs/DSUs/PSUs/RPUs(1) | 34 | — | — | 3,706 | 3,740 | — | 3,740 |
| Community relations | 1,087 | 40 | 195 | — | 1,322 | — | 1,322 |
| Reclamation liability accretion | 433 | 322 | 324 | — | 1,079 | — | 1,079 |
| Realized gains on fuel derivative contracts | (1,393) | (1,038) | (277) | — | (2,708) | — | (2,708) |
| Sustaining lease expenditures | 818 | 306 | (49) | 490 | 1,565 | — | 1,565 |
| Sustaining capital expenditures(2) | 73,764 | 8,049 | 14,797 | — | 96,610 | 1,191 | 97,801 |
| Sustaining mine exploration(2) | 2,022 | 1,067 | 1,410 | — | 4,499 | 38 | 4,537 |
| Total all-in sustaining costs | 185,337 | 59,823 | 61,308 | 18,228 | 324,696 | 20,855 | 345,551 |
| Gold sold (ounces) | 128,321 | 53,500 | 75,100 | — | 256,921 | 18,059 | 274,980 |
| All-in sustaining cost per ounce ($/gold ounce sold) | 1,444 | 1,118 | 816 | — | 1,264 | 1,155 | 1,257 |
(1) Included as a component of Share-based payments on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(2) Refer to Sustaining capital expenditures and Sustaining mine exploration reconciliations below.
The table below shows a reconciliation of sustaining capital expenditures to operating mine capital expenditures as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements on a consolidated and a mine-by-mine basis (dollars in thousands):
| For the three months ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Operating mine capital expenditures | 87,830 | 9,195 | 14,797 | 111,822 | 1,191 | 113,013 |
| Road construction | (52) | — | — | (52) | — | (52) |
| Fekola underground | (14,014) | — | — | (14,014) | — | (14,014) |
| Other | — | (948) | — | (948) | — | (948) |
| Land acquisitions | — | (198) | — | (198) | — | (198) |
| Sustaining capital expenditures | 73,764 | 8,049 | 14,797 | 96,610 | 1,191 | 97,801 |
The table below shows a reconciliation of sustaining mine exploration to operating mine exploration as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements on a consolidated and a mine-by-mine basis (dollars in thousands):
| For the three months ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Operating mine exploration | 2,022 | 1,067 | 1,410 | 4,499 | 38 | 4,537 |
| Regional exploration | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sustaining mine exploration | 2,022 | 1,067 | 1,410 | 4,499 | 38 | 4,537 |
The tables below show a reconciliation of all-in sustaining costs per ounce to production costs as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements on a consolidated and a mine-by-mine basis (dollars in thousands):
| For the year ended December 31, 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Corporate | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Production costs | 384,221 | 161,462 | 136,145 | — | 681,828 | 25,126 | 706,954 |
| Royalties and production taxes | 100,353 | 26,801 | 19,445 | — | 146,599 | 1,565 | 148,164 |
| Corporate administration | 11,220 | 2,767 | 4,781 | 40,715 | 59,483 | 1,463 | 60,946 |
| Share-based payments – RSUs/DSUs/PSUs/RPUs(1) | 111 | — | — | 16,150 | 16,261 | — | 16,261 |
| Community relations | 962 | 228 | 1,719 | — | 2,909 | — | 2,909 |
| Reclamation liability accretion | 1,815 | 1,234 | 961 | — | 4,010 | — | 4,010 |
| Realized losses on fuel derivative contracts | 100 | 35 | 73 | — | 208 | — | 208 |
| Sustaining lease expenditures | 329 | 1,248 | 1,254 | 1,989 | 4,820 | — | 4,820 |
| Sustaining capital expenditures(2) | 193,277 | 27,314 | 27,668 | — | 248,259 | 2,392 | 250,651 |
| Sustaining mine exploration(2) | 4,428 | 2,121 | 1,769 | — | 8,318 | — | 8,318 |
| Total all-in sustaining costs | 696,816 | 223,210 | 193,815 | 58,854 | 1,172,695 | 30,546 | 1,203,241 |
| Gold sold (ounces) | 404,458 | 193,270 | 203,796 | — | 801,524 | 19,644 | 821,168 |
| All-in sustaining cost per ounce ($/gold ounce sold) | 1,723 | 1,155 | 951 | — | 1,463 | 1,555 | 1,465 |
(1) Included as a component of Share-based payments on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(2) Refer to Sustaining capital expenditures and Sustaining mine exploration reconciliations below.
The table below shows a reconciliation of sustaining capital expenditures to operating mine capital expenditures as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements on a consolidated and a mine-by-mine basis (dollars in thousands):
| For the year ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Operating mine capital expenditures | 257,776 | 29,763 | 28,842 | 316,381 | 2,392 | 318,773 |
| Road construction | (887) | — | — | (887) | — | (887) |
| Fekola underground | (63,612) | — | — | (63,612) | — | (63,612) |
| Land acquisitions | — | (2,189) | — | (2,189) | — | (2,189) |
| Other | — | (260) | (1,174) | (1,434) | — | (1,434) |
| Sustaining capital expenditures | 193,277 | 27,314 | 27,668 | 248,259 | 2,392 | 250,651 |
The table below shows a reconciliation of sustaining mine exploration to operating mine exploration as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements (dollars in thousands):
| For the year ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Operating mine exploration | 4,428 | 3,649 | 7,825 | 15,902 | — | 15,902 |
| Regional exploration | — | (1,528) | (6,056) | (7,584) | — | (7,584) |
| Sustaining mine exploration | 4,428 | 2,121 | 1,769 | 8,318 | — | 8,318 |
The tables below show a reconciliation of all-in sustaining costs per ounce to production costs as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements on a consolidated and a mine-by-mine basis (dollars in thousands):
| For the year ended December 31, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Corporate | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Production costs | 333,215 | 160,952 | 122,030 | — | 616,197 | 67,766 | 683,963 |
| Royalties and production taxes | 95,576 | 23,439 | 16,688 | — | 135,703 | 5,053 | 140,756 |
| Corporate administration | 12,201 | 2,921 | 5,339 | 41,850 | 62,311 | 2,794 | 65,105 |
| Share-based payments – RSUs/DSUs/PSUs/RPUs(1) | 43 | — | — | 16,188 | 16,231 | — | 16,231 |
| Community relations | 3,773 | 163 | 1,269 | — | 5,205 | — | 5,205 |
| Reclamation liability accretion | 1,552 | 1,181 | 1,181 | — | 3,914 | — | 3,914 |
| Realized gains on fuel derivative contracts | (4,169) | (3,824) | (1,206) | — | (9,199) | — | (9,199) |
| Sustaining lease expenditures | 1,935 | 1,218 | 1,145 | 1,891 | 6,189 | — | 6,189 |
| Sustaining capital expenditures(2) | 255,026 | 28,194 | 61,063 | — | 344,283 | 8,518 | 352,801 |
| Sustaining mine exploration(2) | 3,728 | 3,808 | 3,863 | — | 11,399 | 57 | 11,456 |
| Total all-in sustaining costs | 702,880 | 218,052 | 211,372 | 59,929 | 1,192,233 | 84,188 | 1,276,421 |
| Gold sold (ounces) | 588,460 | 190,800 | 214,800 | — | 994,060 | 68,725 | 1,062,785 |
| All-in sustaining cost per ounce ($/gold ounce sold) | 1,194 | 1,143 | 984 | — | 1,199 | 1,225 | 1,201 |
(1) Included as a component of Share-based payments on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(2) Refer to Sustaining capital expenditures and Sustaining mine exploration reconciliations below.
The table below shows a reconciliation of sustaining capital expenditures to operating mine capital expenditures as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements (dollars in thousands):
| For the year ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Operating mine capital expenditures | 298,942 | 30,142 | 61,063 | 390,147 | 8,518 | 398,665 |
| Road construction | (5,335) | — | — | (5,335) | — | (5,335) |
| Fekola underground | (38,581) | — | — | (38,581) | — | (38,581) |
| Land acquisitions | — | (198) | — | (198) | — | (198) |
| Other | — | (1,750) | — | (1,750) | — | (1,750) |
| Sustaining capital expenditures | 255,026 | 28,194 | 61,063 | 344,283 | 8,518 | 352,801 |
The table below shows a reconciliation of sustaining mine exploration to operating mine exploration as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements (dollars in thousands):
| For the year ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fekola<br> Mine | Masbate<br> Mine | Otjikoto<br> Mine | Total | Calibre equity investment | Grand<br> Total | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Operating mine exploration | 3,728 | 3,808 | 3,863 | 11,399 | 57 | 11,456 |
| Regional exploration | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sustaining mine exploration | 3,728 | 3,808 | 3,863 | 11,399 | 57 | 11,456 |
Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share - basic
Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share – basic are non-IFRS measures that do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company defines adjusted net income as net income attributable to shareholders of the Company adjusted for non-recurring items and also significant recurring non-cash items. The Company defines adjusted earnings per share – basic as adjusted net income divided by the basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding.
Management believes that the presentation of adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share - basic is appropriate to provide additional information to investors regarding items that we do not expect to continue at the same level in the future or that management does not believe to be a reflection of the Company's ongoing operating performance. Management further believes that its presentation of these non-IFRS financial measures provide information that is useful to investors because they are important indicators of the strength of our operations and the performance of our core business. Accordingly, it is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Other companies may calculate this measure differently.
A reconciliation of net (loss) income to adjusted net income as extracted from the annual consolidated financial statements is set out in the table below:
| Three months ended | Year ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| (000’s) | (000’s) | (000’s) | (000’s) | |
| Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of the Company for the period: | (11,881) | (113,224) | (629,891) | 10,097 |
| Adjustments for non-recurring items and significant recurring non-cash items: | ||||
| Impairment of long-lived assets | — | 187,964 | 858,301 | 304,446 |
| Write-down of mining interests | — | 2,921 | 636 | 19,905 |
| Gain on sale of shares in associate | — | — | (16,822) | — |
| Gain on sale of mining interests | — | — | (56,115) | — |
| Regulatory dispute settlement | — | — | 15,089 | — |
| Unrealized (gains) losses on derivative instruments | (3,639) | 4,101 | 2,630 | 4,500 |
| Office lease termination costs | — | — | — | 1,946 |
| Loan receivable provision | — | — | — | 2,085 |
| Change in fair value of gold stream | 5,629 | 18,800 | 26,825 | 12,300 |
| Dilution loss on investment in Calibre | — | 943 | 8,984 | 943 |
| Deferred income tax expense (recovery) | 27,324 | (10,808) | (3,095) | (9,019) |
| Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders of the Company for the period | 17,433 | 90,697 | 206,542 | 347,203 |
| Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands) | 1,313,960 | 1,300,791 | 1,308,850 | 1,232,092 |
| Adjusted net earnings attributable to shareholders of the Company per share–basic ($/share) | 0.01 | 0.07 | 0.16 | 0.28 |
SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS
| Q4 | Q3 | Q2 | Q1 | Q4 | Q3 | Q2 | Q1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | |
| Gold revenue ($ in thousands) | 499,788 | 448,229 | 492,569 | 461,444 | 511,974 | 477,888 | 470,854 | 473,556 |
| Net (loss) income for the period ($ in thousands) | (9,325) | (631,032) | (34,777) | 48,481 | (117,396) | (34,770) | 91,850 | 101,904 |
| (Loss) earnings per share (1) – basic ($) | (0.01) | (0.48) | (0.02) | 0.03 | (0.09) | (0.03) | 0.06 | 0.08 |
| (Loss) earnings per share (1) – diluted ($) | (0.01) | (0.48) | (0.02) | 0.03 | (0.09) | (0.03) | 0.06 | 0.08 |
| Cash flows provided by operating activities ($ in thousands) | 120,544 | (16,099) | 62,432 | 710,727 | 205,443 | 110,204 | 194,983 | 203,823 |
| Gold sold (ounces) | 187,793 | 180,525 | 210,228 | 222,978 | 256,921 | 248,889 | 239,100 | 249,150 |
| Average realized gold price ($/ounce) | 2,661 | 2,483 | 2,343 | 2,069 | 1,993 | 1,920 | 1,969 | 1,901 |
| Gold produced (ounces) | 186,001 | 180,553 | 204,241 | 214,339 | 270,611 | 225,052 | 245,961 | 250,719 |
| Gold produced, total including Calibre equity investment (ounces) | 186,001 | 180,553 | 212,508 | 225,716 | 288,665 | 242,838 | 262,701 | 266,856 |
| Production costs ($ in thousands) | 181,376 | 192,408 | 151,299 | 156,745 | 164,406 | 171,425 | 152,762 | 127,604 |
(1)Attributable to the shareholders of the Company.
Quarterly gold revenue throughout the eight quarters is a function of quarterly production levels, the timing of bullion shipments and changes in average realized gold price while cash flows from operating activities are also impacted by production costs of each quarter and changes in working capital, in addition to the factors noted for gold revenue. Net income throughout the eight quarters is a function of quarterly revenues, cash operating costs, related taxes and asset impairment charges. The net loss in the third quarter of 2023 reflects an impairment loss of $112 million impairment charge on the Gramalote Project as a result of the Company's acquisition from AngloGold of the remaining 50% stake in the Gramalote Project. The net loss in the fourth quarter of 2023 reflects an impairment of $192 million related to the Fekola Complex, net of deferred income tax. The net loss in the second quarter of 2024 reflects an impairment of $194 million related to the Fekola Complex, net of deferred income tax, partially offset by a gain on sale of mining interests of $49 million and a gain on sale of shares in associate of $17 million. The net loss in the third quarter of 2024 reflects an impairment of $661 million related to the Goose Project and settlement expenses arising from the MOU Agreement signed with the State of Mali in September 2024 of $84 million partially offset by a gain on sale of mining interests of $8 million. Cash flows used in operating activities in the third quarter of 2024 reflect the build-up of long-term supplies inventory of $98 million for the Goose Project. The net loss in the fourth quarter of 2024 reflects the retroactive application of the additional 10% priority dividend at the Fekola Mine resulting in an additional current income tax expense of $13 million.
SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK
Total gold production in 2025 is anticipated to be between 970,000 and 1,075,000 ounces, a significant increase from 2024 production levels primarily due to the scheduled mining and processing of higher-grade ore from the Fekola Phase 7 and Cardinal pits made accessible by the deferred stripping campaign that was undertaken throughout 2024, the expected contribution from Fekola Regional starting in mid-2025, the commencement of mining of higher-grade ore at Fekola underground, and the commencement of gold production at the Goose Project by the end of the second quarter of 2025. The Company's full year total cash operating costs for the Fekola Complex, Masbate and Otjikoto are forecast to be between $835 and $895 per gold ounce and total all-in sustaining costs are forecast to be between $1,460 and $1,520 per gold ounce. Operating cost guidance for the Goose Project will be released in the second quarter of 2025 (prior to the commencement of initial production), after the publication in the first quarter of 2025 of B2Gold's initial Goose Project life of mine plan based on updated Mineral Reserves.
Upon completion of the construction activities at the Goose Project, the mine is expected to pour first gold in the second quarter of 2025, followed by ramp up to commercial production in the third quarter, and contribute between 120,000 and 150,000 ounces of gold in 2025. Over the first six full calendar years of operation from 2026 to 2031 inclusive, the average annual gold production for the Goose Project is estimated to be approximately 310,000 ounces of gold per year. The Company remains on track to complete B2Gold's initial Goose Project life of mine plan based on updated Mineral Reserves by the end of the first quarter of 2025.
Based on the positive PEA results for the Antelope deposit at the Otjikoto Mine released in February 2025, B2Gold believes that the Antelope deposit has the potential to become a small-scale, low-cost underground gold mine that can supplement the low-grade stockpile production during the period from 2028 to 2032 and result in meaningful production profile for Otjikoto into the next decade.
Following the release of positive PEA results on the Company's Gramalote Project in Colombia, B2Gold commenced feasibility work with the goal of completing a feasibility study by mid-2025. Due to the work completed for previous studies, the work remaining to finalize a feasibility study for the updated medium-scale project is not expected to be extensive. The main work programs for the feasibility study include geotechnical and environmental site investigations for the processing plant and waste
dump footprints, as well as capital and operating cost estimates. Those work programs, as well as processing engineering and site infrastructure design, are underway and the study is on schedule.
The Company's ongoing strategy is to continue to maximize profitable production from its existing mines, maintain a strong financial position, realize the potential increase in gold production from the Company's existing development projects, continue exploration programs across the Company's robust land packages, evaluate new exploration, development and production opportunities and continue to return capital to shareholders.
OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA
At February 19, 2025, 1,318,040,605 common shares were outstanding. In addition, there were approximately 47.7 million stock options outstanding with exercise prices ranging between C$3.37 to C$8.53 per share, approximately 4.3 million RSUs outstanding and approximately 5.7 million PSUs outstanding.
The number of common shares available for issuance under the Company's stock option plan but not subject to outstanding options was 27,902,854 million and 47,742,187 million as at January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Production results and production guidance presented in this MD&A reflect the total production at the mines B2Gold operates on a 100% basis. Please see our most recent Annual Information Form for a discussion of our ownership interest in the mines B2Gold operates.
This MD&A includes certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, including: projections; outlook; guidance; forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or estimated financial and operational performance, gold production and sales, revenues and cash flows, and capital costs (sustaining and non-sustaining) and operating costs, including projected cash operating costs and all-in sustaining costs, and budgets on a consolidated and mine by mine basis, which if they occur, would have on our business, our planned capital and exploration expenditures; future or estimated mine life, metal price assumptions, ore grades or sources, gold recovery rates, stripping ratios, throughput, ore processing; statements regarding anticipated exploration, drilling, development, construction, permitting and other activities or achievements of B2Gold; and including, without limitation: remaining well positioned for continued strong operational and financial performance in 2025; projected gold production, cash operating costs and all-in sustaining costs (on a consolidated and mine by mine basis in 2025 for the Fekola Complex, the Otjikoto Mine, the Masbate Gold Project and the Goose Project; total consolidated gold production of between 970,000 and 1,075,000 ounces in 2025, with cash operating costs of between $835 and $895 per ounce and all-in sustaining costs of between $1,460 and $1,520 per ounce; B2Gold's continued prioritization of developing the Goose Project in a manner that recognizes Indigenous input and concerns and brings long-term socio-economic benefits to the area; the Goose Project capital cost being approximately C$1,190 million and the net cost of open pit and underground development, deferred stripping, and sustaining capital expenditures to be incurred prior to first gold production being approximately C$350 million and the cost for reagents and other working capital items being C$330 million; the Goose Project producing approximately 310,000 ounces of gold per year for the first six years; the potential for first gold production in the second quarter of 2025 from the Goose Project and the estimates of such production; trucking of selective higher-grade saprolite material from the Anaconda Area to the Fekola mill having the potential to generate approximately 80,000 to 100,000 ounces of additional gold production per year from Fekola Regional sources, including up to 180,000 ounces in certain years; the receipt of the exploitation permit for Fekola Regional and Fekola Regional production expected to commence in the second quarter of 2025; the receipt of a permit for Fekola underground and Fekola underground commencing operation in mid-2025; the potential for the Antelope deposit to be developed as an underground operation and contribute up to 65,000 per year during the low-grade stockpile processing in 2029 through 2032; the timing and results of a feasibility study on the Gramalote Project; the potential to develop the Gramalote Project as an open pit gold mine; planned 2025 exploration budgets for Canada, Mali, Namibia, The Philippines, Finland, Cote D’Ivoire and other grassroots projects and the potential payment of future dividends, including the timing and amount of any such dividends, and the expectation that quarterly dividends will be maintained at the same level. All statements in this MD&A that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made.
Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond B2Gold's control, including risks associated with or related to: the volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares; changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates; not achieving production, cost or other estimates; actual production, development plans and costs differing materially from the estimates in B2Gold's feasibility and other studies; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for mining activities; environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and climate change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves and identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in
foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign laws, including those associated with operations in Mali, Namibia, the Philippines and Colombia and including risks related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally; remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and joint venture partners; the lack of sole decision-making authority related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns the Masbate Gold Project; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; competition with other mining companies; community support for B2Gold's operations, including risks related to strikes and the halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small scale miners; failures of information systems or information security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting as required by law, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures; social media and B2Gold's reputation; as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most recent Annual Information Form, B2Gold's current Form 40-F Annual Report and B2Gold's other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which may be viewed at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov, respectively (the "Websites"). The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect B2Gold's forward-looking statements.
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to B2Gold's ability to carry on current and future operations, including: development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
The projected range of all-in sustaining costs includes sustaining capital expenditures, corporate administrative expense, mine-site exploration and evaluation costs and reclamation cost accretion, and exclude the effects of expansionary capital and non-sustaining expenditures. Projected GAAP total production cash costs for the full year would require inclusion of the projected impact of future included and excluded items, including items that are not currently determinable, but may be significant, such as sustaining capital expenditures, reclamation cost accretion. Due to the uncertainty of the likelihood, amount and timing of any such items, B2Gold does not have information available to provide a quantitative reconciliation of projected all-in sustaining costs to a total production cash costs projection. B2Gold believes that this measure represents the total costs of producing gold from current operations, and provides B2Gold and other stakeholders of the Company with additional information of B2Gold’s operational performance and ability to generate cash flows. All-in sustaining costs, as a key performance measure, allows B2Gold to assess its ability to support capital expenditures and to sustain future production from the generation of operating cash flows. This information provides management with the ability to more actively manage capital programs and to make more prudent capital investment decisions.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING MINERAL RESERVE AND RESOURCE ESTIMATES
The disclosure in this MD&A was prepared in accordance with Canadian standards for the reporting of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, which differ in some material respects from the disclosure requirements of United States securities laws. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the terms “mineral reserve”, “proven mineral reserve”, “probable mineral reserve”, “inferred mineral resources,”, “indicated mineral resources,” “measured mineral resources” and “mineral resources” used or referenced in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein are Canadian mineral disclosure terms as defined in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the “CIM”) - CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the “CIM Definition Standards”). The definitions of these terms, and other mining terms and disclosures, differ from the definitions of such terms, if any, for purposes of the SEC’s disclosure rules for domestic United State issuers. As a foreign private issuer that is eligible to file reports with the SEC pursuant to the MJDS, B2Gold is not required to provide disclosure on its mineral properties under the SEC Rules and provides disclosure under NI 43-101 and the CIM Definition Standards. Accordingly, mineral reserve and mineral resource information and other technical information contained in this offering memorandum and the documents incorporated by reference herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by companies subject to the SEC’s reporting and disclosure requirements for domestic United States issuers.
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Due to the uncertainty of measured, indicated or inferred mineral resources, these mineral resources may never be upgraded to proven and probable mineral reserves. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves or recovered. In addition, United States investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of B2Gold’s measured, indicated or inferred mineral resources constitute or will be converted into mineral reserves or are or will be economically or legally mineable without additional work.
Historical results or feasibility models presented herein are not guarantees or expectations of future performance. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Due to the uncertainty of measured, indicated or inferred mineral resources, these mineral resources may never be upgraded to proven and probable mineral reserves. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves or recovered. In addition, United States investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of B2Gold’s measured, indicated or inferred mineral resources constitute or will be converted into mineral reserves or are or will be economically or legally mineable without additional work.
QUALIFIED PERSONS
William Lytle, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the disclosure of all scientific and technical information related to operational matters contained in this MD&A. Andrew Brown, P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration, a qualified person under NI 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information regarding exploration matters contained in this MD&A.
41
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.4 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Clive Johnson**,** certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 40-F of B2Gold Corp.; |
|---|---|
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the issuer as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 4. | The issuer's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the issuer and have: |
| a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the issuer, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| --- | --- |
| b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the issuer's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the issuer's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the issuer's internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 5. | The issuer's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the issuer's auditors and the audit committee of the issuer's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| --- | --- |
| a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the issuer's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| --- | --- |
| b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the issuer's internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: March 28, 2025
| By: | /s/ Clive Johnson |
|---|---|
| Clive Johnson | |
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.5 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Michael Cinnamond**,** certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 40-F of B2Gold Corp.; | |
|---|---|---|
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; | |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the issuer as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; | |
| 4. | The issuer's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the issuer and have: | |
| a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the issuer, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; | |
| --- | --- | |
| b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; | |
| c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the issuer's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and | |
| d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the issuer's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the issuer's internal control over financial reporting; and | |
| 5. | The issuer's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the issuer's auditors and the audit committee of the issuer's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the issuer's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and | |
| b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the issuer's internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: March 28, 2025
| By: | /s/ Michael Cinnamond |
|---|---|
| Michael Cinnamond | |
| Senior Vice President of Finance | |
| and Chief Financial Officer |
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.6 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
Section 906 Certification
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 40-F of B2Gold Corp., a British Columbia corporation (the "Company"), for the period ending December 31, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), the undersigned officer of the Company certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
| 1. | The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)); and |
|---|---|
| 2. | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
| Dated: March 28, 2025 | /s/ Clive Johnson |
| --- | --- |
| Clive Johnson | |
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.7 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
Section 906 Certification
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 40-F of B2Gold Corp., a British Columbia corporation (the "Company"), for the period ending December 31, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), the undersigned officer of the Company certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
| 1. | The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)); and |
|---|---|
| 2. | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
| Dated: March 28, 2025 | /s/ Michael Cinnamond |
| --- | --- |
| Michael Cinnamond | |
| Senior Vice President of Finance | |
| and Chief Financial Officer |
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.8 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 of B2Gold Corp. of our report dated February 19, 2025, relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Exhibit 99.2 incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 40-F.
We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-273659, 333-239197, 333-232158, 333-226063, 333-218710, 333-206811, 333-200228 and 333-192555) and the Registration Statement on Form F-3D (No. 333-274310) of B2Gold Corp. of our report dated February 19, 2025 **** referred to above. We also consent to reference to us under the heading "Names of Experts and Interest of Experts" in the Annual Information Form, filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Annual Report on Form 40-F, which is incorporated by reference in such Registration Statements.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
Vancouver, Canada
March 28, 2025
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP PwC Place, 250 Howe Street, Suite 1400, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3S7 T.: +1 604 806 7000, F.: +1 604 806 7806, Fax to mail: ca_vancouver_main_fax@pwc.com
"PwC" refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership.
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.9 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
CONSENT OF ANDREW BROWN
I consent to the inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Annual Report on Form 40-F ("Annual Report") being filed by B2Gold Corp. (the "Company"), for the year ended December 31, 2024, including any amendments or exhibits thereto, and the references to, and the information derived from, (i) the report titled "Fekola Complex, Mali, NI 43-101 Technical Report" dated December 31, 2023, (ii) mineral resource estimates for the Fekola Complex, (iii) the report titled "National Instrument (NI) 43-101 Technical Report for the Goose Project and Back River District, Nunavut, Canada" dated effective 28 March 2025, (iv) mineral resource estimates for the Goose Project (v) mineral resource estimates for the Otjikoto Mine, (vi) mineral resource estimates for the Gramalote Project (vii) scientific and technical information regarding exploration matters contained in the Annual Information Form, and (viii) scientific and technical information regarding exploration matters contained in the Management's Discussion and Analysis and, in each case, to the references, as applicable, to the undersigned's name, as an expert or "qualified person" in or incorporated by reference into the Annual Report, the registration statement on Form F-3D (No. 333-274310) and the registration statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-192555, No. 333-200228, No. 333-206811, No. 333-218710, No. 333-226063, No. 333-232158 No. 333-239197 and No. 333-273659) of the Company if applicable, as amended.
| /s/ Andrew Brown |
|---|
| Andrew Brown, Vice President, Exploration |
| March 28, 2025 |
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.10 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
CONSENT OF WILLIAM LYTLE
I consent to the inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Annual Report on Form 40-F ("Annual Report") being filed by B2Gold Corp. (the "Company"), for the year ended December 31, 2024, including any amendments or exhibits thereto, and the references to, and the information derived from, (i) the report titled "National Instrument (NI) 43-101 Technical Report for the Goose Project and Back River District, Nunavut, Canada" dated effective 28 March 2025, (ii) scientific and technical information regarding operation matters contained in the Management's Discussion and Analysis, and (iii) scientific and technical information regarding operation matters contained in the Annual Information Form, and in each case, to the references, as applicable, to the undersigned's name, as an expert or qualified person in or incorporated by reference into the Annual Report, the registration statement on Form F-3D (No. 333-274310) and the registration statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-192555, No. 333-200228, No. 333-206811, No. 333-218710, No. 333-226063, No. 333-232158, No. 333-239197 and No. 333-273659) of the Company if applicable, as amended.
| /s/ William (Bill) Lytle |
|---|
| William (Bill) Lytle, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer |
| March 28, 2025 |
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.11 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
CONSENT OF THOMAS GARAGAN
I consent to the inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Annual Report on Form 40-F ("Annual Report") being filed by B2Gold Corp. (the "Company") , for the year ended December 31, 2024, including any amendments or exhibits thereto, and the references to, and the information derived from, (i) the report titled "Otjikoto Gold Mine, Namibia, NI 43-101 Technical Report" dated effective December 31, 2018, (ii) the report titled "Masbate Gold Operation, Republic of Philippines, NI 43-101 Technical Report on Operations" dated effective December 31, 2016, and in each case, to the references, as applicable, to the undersigned's name, as an expert or qualified person in or incorporated by reference into the Annual Report, the registration statement on Form F-3D (No. 333-274310) and the registration statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-192555, No. 333-200228, No. 333-206811, No. 333-218710, No. 333-226063, No. 333-232158, No. 333-239197 and No. 333-273659) of the Company if applicable, as amended.
| /s/ Thomas Garagan |
|---|
| Thomas Garagan |
| March 28, 2025 |
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.12 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
CONSENT OF KEN JONES
I consent to the inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Annual Report on Form 40-F ("Annual Report") being filed by B2Gold Corp. (the "Company"), for the year ended December 31, 2024, including any amendments or exhibits thereto, and the references to, and the information derived from, (i) the report titled "Fekola Complex, Mali, NI 43-101 Technical Report" dated effective December 31, 2023, (ii) the report titled "Masbate Gold Operation, Republic of Philippines, NI 43-101 Technical Report on Operations" dated effective December 31, 2016, and (iii) the report titled "Otjikoto Gold Mine, Namibia, NI 43-101 Technical Report" dated effective December 31, 2018, (iv) the report titled "National Instrument (NI) 43-101 Technical Report for the Goose Project and Back River District, Nunavut, Canada" dated effective 28 March 2025, and in each case, to the references, as applicable, to the undersigned's name, as an expert or qualified person in or incorporated by reference into the Annual Report, the registration statement on Form F-3D (No. 333-274310) and the registration statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-192555, No. 333-200228, No. 333-206811, No. 333-218710, No. 333-226063, No. 333-232158, No. 333-239197 and No. 333-273659) of the Company if applicable, as amended.
| /s/ Ken Jones |
|---|
| Ken Jones, Director, Sustainability, Engineering/Operations |
| March 28, 2025 |
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.13 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
CONSENT OF PETER MONTANO
I consent to the inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Annual Report on Form 40-F ("Annual Report") being filed by B2Gold Corp. (the "Company"), for the year ended December 31, 2024, including any amendments or exhibits thereto, and the references to, and the information extracted from, (i) the report titled "Fekola Complex, Mali, NI 43-101 Technical Report" dated effective December 31, 2023, (ii) the mineral reserve estimates for the Fekola Complex, (iii) the stockpile estimates for the Fekola Open Pit, (iv) mineral reserve estimates for the Masbate Gold Project (v) the stockpile estimates for the Masbate project, (vi) the report titled "Otjikoto Gold Mine, Namibia, NI 43-101 Technical Report" dated effective December 31, 2018, (vii) the mineral reserve estimates within open pits, underground mining for the Otjikoto Mine, (viii) the stockpile estimates for the Otjikoto Mine, (ix) the report titled "National Instrument (NI) 43-101 Technical Report for the Goose Project and Back River District, Nunavut, Canada" dated effective 28 March 2025, (x) the open pit and stockpile mineral reserves for the Goose Project, and in each case, to the references, as applicable, to the undersigned's name as an expert or qualified person in or incorporated by reference into the Annual Report the registration statement on Form F-3D (No. 333-274310) and the registration statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-192555, No. 333-200228, No. 333-206811, No. 333-218710, No. 333-226063, No. 333-232158, No. 333-239197 and No. 333-273659) of the Company if applicable, as amended.
| /s/ Peter Montano |
|---|
| Peter Montano, Vice President, Projects<br>March 28, 2025 |
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.14 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
CONSENT OF JOHN RAJALA
I consent to the inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Annual Report on Form 40-F ("Annual Report") being filed by B2Gold Corp. (the "Company"), for the year ended December 31, 2024, including any amendments or exhibits thereto, and the references to, and the information derived from, (i) the report titled "Masbate Gold Operation, Republic of Philippines, NI 43-101 Technical Report on Operations" dated effective December 31, 2016, (ii) the report titled "Fekola Complex, Mali, NI 43-101 Technical Report" dated effective December 31, 2023, (iii) the report titled "Otjikoto Gold Mine, Namibia, NI 43-101 Technical Report" dated December 31, 2018, and (iv) the report titled "National Instrument (NI) 43-101 Technical Report for the Goose Project and Back River District, Nunavut, Canada" dated effective 28 March 2025, and in each case, to references, as applicable, to the undersigned's name, as an expert or qualified person in or incorporated by reference into the Annual Report, the registration statement on Form F-3D (No. 333-274310) and the registration statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-192555, No. 333-200228, No. 333-206811, No. 333-218710, No. 333-226063, No. 333-232158, No. 333-239197 and No. 333-273659) of B2Gold Corp. if applicable, as amended.
| /s/ John Rajala |
|---|
| John Rajala, Vice President, Metallurgy |
| March 28, 2025 |
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.15 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
CONSENT OF MICHAEL JOHNSON
I consent to the inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Annual Report on Form 40-F ("Annual Report") being filed by B2Gold Corp. (the "Company"), for the year ended December 31, 2024, including any amendments or exhibits thereto, and the references to, and the information derived from, (i) mineral resource estimates for the Masbate project and, in each case, to the references, as applicable, to the undersigned's name, as an expert or qualified person in or incorporated by reference into the Annual Report, the registration statement on Form F-3D (No. 333-274310) and the registration statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-192555, No. 333-200228, No. 333-206811, No. 333-218710, No. 333-226063, No. 333-232158 No. 333-239197 and No. 333-273659) of the Company if applicable, as amended.
| /s/ Michael Johnson |
|---|
| Michael Johnson, Technical Services Manager |
| March 28, 2025 |
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.16 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
CONSENT OF MICHAEL MEYERS
I consent to the inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Annual Report on Form 40-F ("Annual Report") being filed by B2Gold Corp. (the "Company"), for the year ended December 31, 2024, including any amendments or exhibits thereto, and the references to, and the information extracted from, (i) the report titled ****** **"**National Instrument (NI) 43-101 Technical Report for the Goose Project and Back River District, Nunavut, Canada" dated effective 28 March 2025 (the "Technical Report"), (ii) underground mineral reserve estimates for the Goose Project, and in each case, to the references, as applicable, to the undersigned's name, as an expert or qualified person in or incorporated by reference into the Annual Report, the registration statement on Form F-3D (No. 333-274310) and the registration statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-192555, No. 333-200228, No. 333-206811, No. 333-218710, No. 333-226063, No. 333-232158, No. 333-239197 and No. 333-273659) of the Company if applicable, as amended.
| /s/ Michael Meyers |
|---|
| Michael Meyers, Manager, Projects |
| March 28, 2025 |
B2Gold Corp.: Exhibit 99.17 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
CONSENT OF ALI EL TAKCH
I consent to the inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Annual Report on Form 40-F ("Annual Report") being filed by B2Gold Corp. (the "Company"), for the year ended December 31, 2024, including any amendments or exhibits thereto, and the references to, and the information extracted from, the report titled **"**National Instrument (NI) 43-101 Technical Report for the Goose Project and Back River District, Nunavut, Canada" dated effective 28 March 2025 (the "Technical Report"), and in each case, to the references, as applicable, to the undersigned's name, as an expert or qualified person in or incorporated by reference into the Annual Report, the registration statement on Form F-3D (No. 333-274310) and the registration statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-192555, No. 333-200228, No. 333-206811, No. 333-218710, No. 333-226063, No. 333-232158, No. 333-239197 and No. 333-273659) of the Company if applicable, as amended.
| /s/Ali El Takch |
|---|
| Ali El Takch, Corporate Civil/Tailings Engineer |
| March 28, 2025 |