{
  "id": 10872216,
  "title": "Barrick seeks security improvements before full construction of Reko Diq",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/barrick-seeks-security-improvements-before-full-construction-of-reko",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-30T06:02:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40441950/barrick-seeks-security-improvements-before-full-construction-of-reko-diq"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Barrick Mining Corporation, a prominent global mining firm, has slowed development of its Reko Diq copper-gold project in Pakistan's Balochistan region and is reassessing its plans. CEO Mark Hill stated that improved security conditions are necessary before proceeding with a full construction schedule. The announcement came amid heightened security concerns in Balochistan, where militant activities have surged and counter-terrorism operations have intensified. In 2022, Pakistan's security forces carried out over 40,000 intelligence-based operations, with more than 31,000 in Balochistan alone.\n\nReko Diq, jointly owned by Barrick (50%), the Balochistan government (25%), and Pakistani state-owned enterprises (25%), is anticipated to generate approximately $74 billion in free cash flow over 37 years, assuming long-term prices hold. The project's initial phase, projected to cost $4 billion (later revised to $5.6 billion), involves processing around 45 million tons of ore annually, with phase two potentially increasing this to 90 million tons. The mine is designed as a conventional open-pit and milling operation, yielding high-quality copper-gold concentrate.",
  "summary": "Barrick Mining Corporation, a leading global mining, exploration and development company, has slowed development of its Reko Diq copper-gold project in Balochistan, Pakistan and is reviewing its plans, saying improved security conditions are needed before it proceeds with a full construction schedule. “We are revisiting it because we need some sort of security improvement before we would embark…",
  "key_points": [
    "Barrick Mining Corporation delays Reko Diq project construction due to security concerns.",
    "CEO Mark Hill emphasizes need for improved security before full-scale development.",
    "Reko Diq project could generate $74 billion in free cash flow over 37 years."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Barrick's decision to slow Reko Diq development means the project's timeline and costs will depend on improvements in security conditions in Balochistan, a key factor in the company's reassessment of its plans.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}