The government held a press conference in the presidential palace, and wheeled out not only the economy minister, Roberto Lavagna, and the mining minister, Jorge Mayoral, but also the infrastructure chief, Julio de Vido, to launch the project. De Vido, who seems to be trying to make a positive announcement a day, said that Barrick had started a feasibility study in January and was now ready to start the real work. This will actually start in October, when Spring comes to the area. The first gold is due to be poured in November 2005. The construction phase of the mine will employ 3,000 people, and the operations, 700 directly and a further 2,100 indirectly. The mine should run for 13 years, producing 530,000oz a year.
Barrick's investment is by far the biggest foreign investment announced since President Néstor Kirchner took office in May. The government said that US$130m would be invested this year.
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