An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") has already been submitted to the Zambian authorities and approval is expected by the end of this year. Barrick Continues to Unlock Value Embedded in Its Asset Base Barrick is projecting a 30% growth in the production of gold-equivalent ounces from its existing assets by the end of this decade 22 while it continues to unlock the value embedded in its portfolio. Mark Bristow says while Barrick was alert to potentially value-accretive opportunities generated by the consolidation of the industry, it had the rare luxury of doing so from an asset base that would support organic growth well into the future. "Five years ago, we set out to build a sustainably profitable gold and copper business focused on world-class assets. We did not have to buy them at a premium: they were embedded in the merged portfolio of Barrick and Randgold and we just had to unlock their value," he said.