B2Gold Corp. (TSX:BTO, NYSE:BTG, NSX: B2G))) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") announces that it is closely monitoring a strike that began on November 29, 2024, by certain employees at the Company's Fekola Mine in Mali. Under the notice provided to the Company by the Fekola workers union, the strike commenced on November 29, 2024 with a seven day duration ending on December 5, 2024. The Company is continuing to operate the Fekola mill at full throughput capacity during this period and still expects to be toward the lower end of its annual production guidance for the Fekola Mine of between 420,000 and 450,000 ounces of gold in 2024.
The health, safety and security of B2Gold employees remains the Company's foremost priority. During the seven-day strike period, the Company is continuing to operate critical infrastructure and the mill on a reduced roster, maintaining the expected gold production profile during the period. It is important to note that under Malian legislation, employees are authorized to provide minimum service, and participation in strikes is not compulsory for employees who elect to continue to work.
The Company believes that the labour action is primarily in response to the action B2Gold has taken against a small number of Fekola employees that previously engaged in illegal activities detrimental to productivity at the Fekola Mine, including "go slow" actions by the mining employees and an illegal sit in at the Fekola management office in August 2024. During this period, B2Gold urged all Fekola employees to avoid involvement in these illegal activities and, in line with Malian law, Fekola's current union agreements and the B2Gold employee code of conduct, has commenced the disciplinary process for those employees who chose to engage in the illegal activities.
