[miningmx.com] — AFRICAN Barrick Gold posted a 30% increase in core profit for 2011, as a rising gold price pushed margins to record levels, offsetting the impact of soaring costs across the industry and helping the miner treble its dividend.
The Tanzania-focused company said last month its full-year production dipped in 2011, after power outages at its Buzwagi mine held back output in the final quarter.
ABG, a unit of the world’s largest gold producer Barrick Gold Corp, said on Thursday earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose to $544m in 2011, broadly within the range of analyst estimates, on the back of a 25% rise in revenues.
ABG, which operates four gold mines in Tanzania, said its cash margin increased by a third to $895 per ounce, helping it to boost its total dividend 208% to 16.3 cents per share.
