{
  "id": 17745295,
  "title": "Production at Reko Diq project could be delayed by two years to 2030",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/production-at-reko-diq-project-could-be-delayed-by-two-years-to-2030",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-11-02T04:23:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn Business",
    "slug": "dawn-business",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2041572/production-at-reko-diq-project-could-be-delayed-by-two-years-to-2030"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Reko Diq copper-gold project in Pakistan could face a two-year delay, potentially reaching completion in 2030, due to security concerns in Balochistan and the Middle East tensions, according to government sources and industry insiders. War in Iran and persistent security issues in Balochistan have led investors to adjust their timelines, pushing the original 2028 target. Barrick Mining, the Canadian titan behind the project, anticipates resuming full-scale operations by mid-2027 after an internal review. While the company has not officially confirmed this, its local officials express optimism. Despite a slowdown, 700 permanent and around 2,000 contractual workers remain employed at the site. Barrick, alongside government officials, declined to comment on the potential delay.\n\nThe project management has retained all workers, though some third-party service contracts have expired. External factors like the Iran situation and Balochistan's security challenges have reportedly pushed investors to alter the original timeline. Despite concerns, company sources insist daily operations are progressing normally, including research, administrative tasks, and community development. The project has already attracted over $1 billion in investment, with the Barrick Mining Chairman set to attend the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 in Islamabad to discuss the matter. However, industry experts are divided on the financial impact of potential delays, with some warning of costs rising by $8bn to $10bn due to delays, while others estimate a more modest increase of 10%, roughly $450 million to $900 million.",
  "summary": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2041490",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "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."
}