Barrick CEO to Forge Ahead in Latin America Despite Past Strains

  • Bristow says Chinese and Chilean partnerships key to strategy
  • Miner may look at copper assets even after soured Equinox deal
Photographer: Lisi Niesner/Bloomberg
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Barrick Gold Corp.’s new boss intends to push ahead with plans to increase investment in the mineral-rich -- but environmentally tricky -- deposits straddling the Chile-Argentina border.

“If you want to find elephants, go to elephant country,” Chief Executive Officer Mark Bristow, a South African geologist and big-game hunter, said in a phone interview. The Toronto-based company “absolutely” intends to invest more money in the El Indio copper-and gold belt, he said, adding that its partnerships with Chinese and Chilean miners remain key to its strategy in the region.