Latest news with #RaisingtheBar
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
B2Gold Releases its Ninth Annual Responsible Mining Report and its Fourth Annual Climate Strategy Report
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO) (NYSE AMERICAN: BTG) (NSX: B2G) ('B2Gold' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce that it has published its ninth annual Responsible Mining Report entitled 'Raising the Bar' (the 'Report'), which details B2Gold's global economic contributions and its environmental, social, and governance ('ESG') management practices, together with the Company's performance against key indicators in 2024. Highlights of the Report are presented below, and full details are outlined in the Report, which is available to view or download at the link provided below. All dollar figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated. B2Gold is also pleased to announce that it has published its 2024 Climate Strategy Update. The Climate Strategy Update presents stakeholders with information on how B2Gold manages its climate-related risks and impacts and is the Company's fourth annual report in line with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. To view or download a copy of the Responsible Mining Report and Climate Strategy Update, and all other documents referred to in this press release, please visit In announcing the release of the Report and the Climate Strategy Update, Clive Johnson, President & CEO of B2Gold, states 'As I reflect on the achievements and challenges of the past year, I am particularly proud of the dedication of our people, who continue to drive B2Gold forward. We have successfully navigated dynamic capital markets, regulatory changes, and evolving ESG expectations while maintaining our high standards of responsible mining. Together, we strive to continue to create long-term value for all of our stakeholders, while upholding the level of operational excellence, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility that define B2Gold.' Highlights from the 2024 "Raising the Bar" Responsible Mining Report Economic Contribution As a responsible gold miner, B2Gold aims to create and distribute economic value among its stakeholders. B2Gold's economic performance is measured by the economic value that it generates for others, including payments to governments through taxes and royalties, local hiring and procurement and investment in communities. In 2024, B2Gold: Achieved total consolidated gold production of 804,778 ounces (including 19,644 ounces of attributable production from Calibre Mining Corp.); Generated $1.9 billion in annual revenue; Paid $283 million in employee wages and benefits; Invested $12.8 million in its local communities1; and Paid $564 million to governments (through taxes and royalties). B2Gold is committed to maximizing local and national economic benefits from its contracting and purchasing. The Company is conscious of the high priority that host communities and governments place on local procurement. In sourcing the goods and services necessary to run its operations, B2Gold gives preference to local businesses where possible, provided they meet minimum safety, quality, ethical, and cost requirements. In 2024, over $600 million of goods and services were procured from local and host-country businesses. Several 2024 success stories are outlined in the Report. People As a reputable corporate citizen, B2Gold generates national employment and opportunities for people to develop their careers, trains employees to acquire new skills, and opens doors to women, under-represented groups and previously disadvantaged people. The Company fosters positive and productive engagement with employees, provides safe workplaces, and believes that investing in people attracts and retains talented individuals and assists in their abilities to provide for themselves, their families and their futures. At the end of 2024, B2Gold employed 6,4782 people across all operations. The Company continues to maintain high local employment rates by targeting recruitment efforts at regional and national levels. Across all operations, 97% of the total workforce, and 58% of Senior Management3 were comprised of national4 employees. B2Gold values a diverse workforce. In recent years, the Company has made significant strides in advancing its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. In 2021, the adoption of a Diversity Policy by the Company's Board established a target of 30% female representation on the Board and in management-level positions, underscoring its commitment to promoting and achieving gender diversity at all levels of the organization. B2Gold is pleased to report that as of the end of 2024, 40% of Company directors identify as gender diverse. Health and Safety As a result of B2Gold's focus on injury prevention, the Company is once again pleased to report that for the ninth consecutive year, it has maintained a zero-fatality workplace. Additionally, B2Gold's injury rates remain amongst the lowest in the mining industry, with a Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate of 0.055 in 2024. These achievements underscore the Company's position as a leader in safety performance within the industry. Communities B2Gold maintains its social licence to operate by building trust-based relationships, actively engaging with stakeholders, and implementing community investment activities based on local ownership and development priorities. Highlights of the 2024 community investment programs include: At the Fekola Complex, the 70-hectare Goungoubato Agricultural Project is supporting over 250 households affected by resettlement, directly addressing food insecurity whilst fostering small- and medium-sized enterprise growth through newly formed farmers' associations. Additionally, B2Gold continued its partnership with Global Affairs Canada and its support of the FEMA Project, which aims to improve conditions for women and children living in artisanal mining communities within the Fekola Mine's area of influence. The FEMA Project was initiated in March 2022 and will continue until 2027. At the Masbate Gold Project, investment continued to focus on education, access to health services and facilities, and programs that enhance local economic opportunities, including skills training and small enterprise support. The Training for Employment Program reached its fifth year of partnership in 2024 and remains a powerful driver of economic mobility by equipping individuals with the skills and training needed to build sustainable livelihoods. Over the lifetime of the project, 1,521 individuals have received training and over 600 participants have secured employment. At the Otjikoto Mine, B2Gold Namibia achieved significant milestones that reflect the Company's commitment to meeting critical needs, supporting long-term development, and fostering resilience beyond the life of the mine. Notable achievements include the completion of the Ombili Clinic, which will improve access to healthcare in the region, and the Otavi Water Project, which enhances water security through the construction of a tower and water distribution system. At the Back River Gold District, B2Gold Nunavut continues to strengthen its close relationships with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and communities across Canada's Arctic. The Company is investing in collaborative projects throughout the Kitikmeot region that promote community wellness, support youth through sports, recreation, and education, and advance initiatives focused on women and Elders. A standout initiative is the Inuit Workplace Experience Program, delivered in partnership with the Redfish Arts Society, which provides Kitikmeot Inuit youth with hands-on training in welding and fabrication—equipping them with valuable skills for employment in Nunavut's growing mineral development sector. B2Gold Nunavut remains committed to working alongside the Kitikmeot Inuit Association to advance further initiatives that ensure the benefits of the Back River Gold District reach the communities of Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk, Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, and Kugaaruk. Environment B2Gold's remains firmly committed to reducing greenhouse gas ('GHG') emissions, with a target to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 30% by 2030 against a 2021 baseline. The completion of the Fekola solar plant expansion in early 2025 underscores this commitment by advancing the decarbonization of operations through innovative and sustainable energy solutions. The expanded Fekola facility is expected to supply approximately 30% of the site's electricity demand and reduce annual emissions by an estimated 63,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Approach to Reporting B2Gold is committed to the transparency of its sustainability risks, management and performance. The Report is aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Reporting Standards and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board Mining and Metals Sustainability Accounting Standard. The Company firmly believes that the mining industry has an opportunity to contribute positively to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and it has reported its contribution in this regard since 2018. Highlights from the 2024 Climate Strategy Update 2024 Highlights B2Gold is committed to a GHG emissions reduction target of a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 against a 2021 baseline. The Company continued evaluation of financial impacts of key climate risks identified at sites during previous climate scenario analysis workshops. The total Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions (for the Fekola, Masbate and Otjikoto operations) remained relatively stable in 2024, with a slight decrease to an estimated 699 thousand tonnes CO2e compared to 701 thousand tonnes in 2023. The Company's consolidated GHG emissions intensity was 0.89 tonnes CO2e per gold ounce produced in 2024 (compared with 0.71 in 2023), a modest increase driven in part by a reduction in total gold production. The proportion of electricity consumed at B2Gold operations from renewable sources was 21.7% in 2024. At Otjikoto, the proportion of electricity consumed from renewable sources was over 70%. Looking Forward – 2025 and Beyond In 2025, B2Gold looks forward to strengthening its global partnerships and deepening its commitment to the diverse communities in which it operates. The Company will continue investing in initiatives that expand vocational training and promote job creation, improve access to education, and enhance healthcare services. B2Gold believes that by building local capacity and fostering strong alignment among governments, communities, stakeholders, and the Company, it can help create resilient, healthy, and prosperous communities throughout the mining lifecycle. As part of its climate strategy, B2Gold will continue to advance renewable energy initiatives across its operations, supporting its target to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 30% by 2030 against a 2021 baseline. At the Masbate Gold Project, an 8.2-megawatt ('MW') solar plant is scheduled for installation in 2025, which will further reduce emissions and heavy fuel oil ('HFO') consumption. In Nunavut, following regulatory approvals received in 2024, B2Gold is finalizing project plans and environmental commitments for the proposed Back River Energy Centre—a renewable energy facility that could include up to thirteen wind turbines, solar panels, and battery storage, with the potential to deliver more than 55 MW of clean energy. This facility is expected to significantly reduce reliance on HFO, as well as the number of fuel barges and fuel truck trips along the winter ice road. Beyond increasing the share of renewable energy in its operations, B2Gold is actively assessing a range of additional carbon reduction opportunities, including energy efficiency improvements, the use of alternative fuels, and optimization of materials movement. The Company remains committed to innovation by working closely with industry-leading partners and staying prepared to adopt emerging technologies that align with its decarbonization goals. About B2Gold B2Gold is a responsible international senior gold producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the Philippines, the Goose Project under construction in northern Canada and numerous development and exploration projects in various countries including Mali, Colombia and Finland. ON BEHALF OF B2GOLD CORP. 'Clive T. Johnson'President and Chief Executive Officer 1 Includes the Community Relations department's operational costs, Gramalote CSR, Masbate's SDMP, Otjikoto's Nature Reserve and Agricultural Project expenditures, and Head Office donations.2 Employee total includes our three operating mines and project/construction employees. The reported numbers include full-time and part-time permanent employees as well as temporary employees.3 'Senior Management' refers to regional executives and regional heads of department.4 As of January 1, 2024, 'National' is defined as those with citizenship in the country of operation. This change was made to align with the Malian local content definition. Prior to 2024, National status was defined as those individuals not on expatriate contracts and included those who had the legal right to work and reside in country without citizenship. As per the Namibian Affirmative Action (Employment) Act, 'Local' is defined as 'Namibian', which excludes expatriates, permanent residents and those who have domicile.5 Frequency Rate is based on 200,000 hours. CONTACT: For more information on B2Gold please visit the Company website at or contact: Michael McDonald VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Development +1 604-681-8371 investor@ Cherry DeGeer Director, Corporate Communications +1 604-681-8371 investor@ Source: B2Gold in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Alcohol-Free Wine Ever Worth Your Time?
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. It seems like sobriety is making a comeback in a big way. The pandemic got us reaching for the top-shelf liquor, but perhaps the collective hangover is starting to take hold as more and more of us are giving up the sauce. One savvy entrepreneur looking to facilitate the trend is Abbie Romanul, expert zero-proof mixologist and founder of Raising the Bar, an alcohol-free cocktail subscription. The Takeout had a chance to talk with Romanul about the exciting world of non-alcoholic wine. But what exactly is non-alcoholic wine, anyway? Turns out, it's a lot like regular wine with extra steps. Non-alcoholic wine (aka dealcoholized wine) is wine that has gone through "the process of significantly reducing or completely removing the alcohol content," Romanul told The Takeout. Essentially, the winemaker will "gently extract alcohol while preserving flavor, offering the experience of a glass of wine without the buzz." But will it taste the same? "It's important to be realistic," said Romanul. "Most non-alcoholic wines won't taste exactly like their traditional counterparts. Alcohol plays a major role in both body and flavor, and the process of removing alcohol inevitably changes the profile." Don't worry, there's still hope. "Personally, I find sparkling varieties offer the closest match. Noughty's Dealcoholized Sparkling Chardonnay is a favorite of mine ... For reds, Oddbird makes a bold, juicy red with balanced tannins that feels full-bodied and satisfying," Romanul said. Read more: Things You Should Never Say When Ordering A Drink At A Bar, According To Bartending Experts Alcoholic beverages tend to be the most expensive drinks on the market, which means some people are giving up alcohol to save money. And while there are many non-alcoholic beverages available that won't hit your wallet as hard, dealcoholized wine isn't one of them. "Non-alcoholic wines go through the same production process as traditional wines -- with the added step of removing the alcohol," Romanul explained. "That extra stage requires specialized equipment and care to preserve flavor and aroma, making the process even more labor- and cost-intensive than conventional winemaking." The price tag on a bottle of non-alcoholic wine will definitely scare some people off, but if you're serious about cutting back, finding ways to celebrate special occasions without alcohol is easier with these kinds of alternatives. But the question remains: Is alcohol-free wine worth your money and time? Ultimately, that's up to you. But if you're curious about alternatives, supporting the zero-proof wine scene is a great way to help it build into something even better than it is today. Romanul put it this way: "The dealcoholized wine market has grown rapidly, and we're now seeing options with depth, structure, and real character that simply weren't available before. And while there are plenty of incredible non-alcoholic drinks out there, if wine is what you're craving, you won't be disappointed — there are more high-quality options than ever." Booze-free drinking has never really gone out of style, but now, even alcohol manufacturers like White Claw are going booze-free with some products. If you want to see offerings continue to improve, the best thing you can do is support the industry as a consumer. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Arts Center expanding to boost programming
Mar. 29—JAMESTOWN — A project to expand The Arts Center will most importantly serve more children in the community, said Riley Akervik, president of the Jamestown Fine Arts Association Board of Directors. "It's definitely important from a multitude of aspects, but I do think probably the most important piece is that currently we are denying so many children in our community proper arts education," he said. The Arts Center has an artist in residence, Anna Brock, going into the schools to teach some art programs, Akervik said. The Arts Center also currently provides programming for grades 3-6. Mindi Schmitz, executive director of The Arts Center, said with the expansion project, they plan to offer additional programming for grades K-2 and middle school. To serve more children, the Jamestown Fine Arts Association, doing business as The Arts Center, announced the Raising the Bar for the Arts capital campaign in 2023. The nonprofit purchased the former Wonder Bar located next to The Arts Center to expand classroom space for children's programming. The building is expected to be renovated in time to open in August for fall programming, Schmitz said. A grand opening is expected at that time, Akervik said. The project will provide one classroom in the existing Arts Center building and a second one in the addition plus a culinary kitchen. The kitchen will be used by students attending Jamestown Public Schools and the James Valley Career and Technology Center. It's also expected to be used for other Arts Center classes and others, Schmitz said. The expansion also means more adults can attend events and classes along with having new event spaces to rent. In addition, there will be two studios for local/regional artists. "Physically, we're going to have a large footprint here in Jamestown and we'll be able to expand our programming, which is exciting, and offer different opportunities, particularly with the culinary kitchen to the community and surrounding areas," Schmitz said. Of the $2 million goal set for the "Raising the Bar for the Arts" capital campaign for the project, $1.7 million has been raised, Schmitz said. The new goal is now $2.4 million, with the campaign called "Raising the Bar (even higher) for the Arts." Schmitz said the change in the capital campaign goal was due to cost increases and a requirement to add a sprinkler system in The Arts Center and the addition. Phase I of the project was purchasing the building and demolition, Schmitz said. Phase II is the renovation of the building, and Phase III will finish two studio apartments planned for visiting artists. "I'm feeling positive about it (the project) and I know the community will get behind us even more after they see construction progress," Schmitz said. Akervik said adding the space means The Arts Center will be able to increase the number of students taking classes. "So currently, we can host maybe eight to 12 students depending on what kind of class it is but with the new space, we're anticipating we'll be able to host about 40 students," he said, noting there has been a waiting list for students to attend Arts After School. "It's really just going to allow us to offer accessible arts education to so many kids in our community that we never could allow before due to the space limitations. "I would say No. 1, that's why this project is important to me and important to the board," Akervik said. "And then additionally, we're also looking at expanding our programming." Arts programming is important for students, Schmitz said. "I think there's a great demand out there for students to have alternatives to sports and other extracurricular things," she said. "Art provides a whole different avenue for students to create and even find some different emotional stability." The new art therapy program for children that held its first session in March is also expected to be located in the new space as well, Akervik said. The Jamestown Fine Arts Center secured a $203,500 grant from Strengthen ND to provide a two-year pilot program to serve children who are referred for the program. The Skills Enrichment Through the Arts program is coordinated by Jennifer Lipetzky, who has a Doctor of Psychology, teaches psychology at the University of Jamestown and had a clinical practice in Jamestown for about 10 years, she said. "We have limited resources in Jamestown for mental health care and because we have limited resources, the more acute kids will get, hopefully, the services that they need, where you have this whole other group of kids that could benefit from supports but they're unable to get them," Lipetzky told The Jamestown Sun in February. "So by offering a program like this, we can reach those kids that don't have other supports otherwise so that they don't continue to struggle." Akervik said students who have gone through traumatic experiences or are grieving due to the loss of a parent, sibling or relative can get bused to The Arts Center from school for the art therapy sessions with a licensed psychologist who can help them work through their struggles, grief and trauma by expressing themselves through the arts. The Jamestown Public School Board approved a memorandum of understanding in 2024 that establishes a partnership between the James Valley Career and Technology Center and The Arts Center to provide a culinary arts facility, The Jamestown Sun reported in June. The culinary kitchen will be located in the southwest corner of the former Wonder Bar building, Schmitz said. Jamestown Public Schools is paying for the equipment in the culinary kitchen, which will be used for classes during the day for JPS/JVCTC students. "We are thrilled about this partnership as it provides benefits for students from all our JVCTC member schools," said Adam Gehlhar, director of the JVCTC. "Students from our current member schools include Pingree, Montpelier, Gackle and Jamestown. We also see some potential for Jamestown Middle School students, the Jamestown High School Family and Consumer Science classes, and obviously the Jamestown community to benefit from this facility." Heidi Eckart, assistant director of the JVCTC, said JVCTC will offer Culinary I and Culinary II classes. When students/staff are not using the kitchen, it would be open for others to use, such as The Arts Center or local individuals making their own products, she said. "We're just really excited to have a collaboration with The Arts Center to be able to offer these courses and be able to share facilities," Eckart said. "I think that's a great way that we can utilize the community and vice versa and have that symbiotic relationship of helping one another out." Eckart said they expect to begin offering Culinary I in the spring of 2026. The culinary arts program prepares students for college programs in food service, according to the course information, along with being ready for different paths after graduation and work-based learning opportunities. The Culinary I course is designed to prepare students for occupations concerned with the preparation and service of food, and Culinary II is designed to allow students to continue training for food service occupation. "It just makes sense in our community to have these kinds of partnerships," Gehlhar said. "JVCTC and JPS are always looking for community partners to work together for the community benefit and workforce development." He said there have been other successful partnerships with its programs. "Culinary arts is the first program we have tried with this sort of off-site facilities partnership and we are excited about the possibility of more win-win partnerships like this within the business or non-profit community," he said. Jamestown Tourism provided a $25,000 grant for the kitchen, Schmitz said. Allison Limke, visitor experience manager for Jamestown Tourism, said Tourism's board of directors approved a City Promotional Capital Construction Fund grant in March 2024. The amount awarded was because The Arts Center and the culinary kitchen project meet multiple tourism goals, Limke said. The kitchen will allow local people to create certified goods to sell in local markets, such as the General Store at Frontier Village, adding to the "North Dakota nice experience," Limke said, along with being a learning source for students. Akervik said bringing in students for courses in the culinary kitchen means The Arts Center will be able to serve about 60 students at one time in the building with all of the programs it will be offering. He said he hopes that will lead students to come to other classes not only as a student but as an adult who has stayed in the community. The Arts Center will be working on a strategic plan this spring, Akervik and Schmitz said. "One main reason for the strategic plan and the reason why we're doing it so soon is just because of the new space and that it's going to be growing very, very rapidly within the year," Akervik said, "so we just want to make sure we have a proper plan in place as far as staffing goes and classes that we'll be offering and facilities management so that the space is used to its fullest potential." The growth means they will need more staff and will be looking at adding one or two positions in the future, Akervik said. Currently, The Arts Center has two full-time employees and one part-time employee. Akervik thanked the donors, business members and sponsors for their support, noting that they couldn't do the project or keep The Arts Center open without them. "Last year was the best year The Arts Center has had in over 10 years financially," Akervik said. He said they've worked to secure new grants and new ideas with programming to ensure The Arts Center was financially stable and saw stability and growth last year. "I would love to be able to see the spaces used all day long, during the day and in the evening, by offering different classes, providing support for different art groups," Schmitz said. "... right now, we have a writers group that meets once a month, we have a wood carvers group that meets once a week. We have Open Mic Night. Any way we can support creativity in Jamestown, that's what we're here to do."
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Raise the Bar' aims to help feed students in need
JOPLIN, Mo. — Bright Futures was on hand at Joplin's Kaminsky Gym for tonight's basketball match-up against Carthage. During the games, the nonprofit was courtside with a special event called 'Raise the Bar.' Attendees were encouraged to participate by donating boxes of granola bars and snack packs. The program is dedicated to providing weekend food for students facing food insecurity. Currently, 64-percent of Joplin Schools students live in economic deprivation, with some elementary schools reporting rates of 80-percent. 'It's an item that most kids like. It's fairly nutritious, it's self stable, and we're going to give out 15,000 granola bars this school year so we need all the help we can get,' said Amanda Stone, Bright Futures Joplin Exec. Director. Joplin High School cheerleaders also supported 'Raising the Bar' at tonight's JV and varsity games by wearing Bright Futures t-shirts. Granola bars can be dropped off anytime at the district's Memorial Education Center located at 825 South Pearl Avenue. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
