In a notable development, nine recent graduates from Balochistan have been selected for the prestigious Reko Diq Mining Corporation (RMDC) International Graduate Programme, which was initiated in July earlier this year.
This program, designed to nurture a new generation of experts and leaders, is a collaborative effort involving Barrick Gold, a Canadian-based corporation with a 50% stake in Pakistan’s Reko Diq mine.
The primary objective of the RMDC International Graduate Programme, as outlined in a press release from Barrick Gold, is to cultivate a group of future professionals who will not only bridge the skills gap in the region but also become advocates for the Reko Diq Mining Company and their province.
Barrick Gold, operating in 19 countries, places great emphasis on cross-border knowledge exchange among its team members to facilitate knowledge transfer and enhance local capabilities. This program, tailored for Pakistan, aims to strengthen the country’s human resource capacity in the mining sector. The graduates selected for this program will undergo a two-year tenure, after which they will return to Pakistan to contribute to Barrick’s operations in the country.
Among the nine individuals selected, four are women from various parts of Balochistan. The selection process rigorously evaluated candidates from diverse regions within Balochistan, including Panjgur, Gwadar, Quetta, Loralai, Khuzdar, Pishin, and the RDMC district of operations in Chagai.
These selected graduates have diverse educational backgrounds, specializing in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Renewable Energy, and Geology.
To identify suitable candidates from Balochistan, RMDC actively collaborated with educational institutions such as the Balochistan University of Engineering & Technology (BUET) Khuzdar, National University of Science & Technology (NUST), University of Balochistan, and Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering & Management Sciences (BUITEMS). Additionally, RMDC advertised the program in mainstream publications in July 2023 to reach a wider audience.
Life-Changing Opportunity for Graduates
Nida Yousuf, HR Manager at RMDC, described this opportunity as “life-changing” for the selected graduates. She expressed hope that they would travel to Barrick Assets in Argentina to receive on-the-job training and develop expertise in mining disciplines. Ultimately, their return to Pakistan will significantly enrich the pool of human resources at the Reko Diq Mine.
Reko Diq, situated in the Chagai district of Balochistan, is a world-class copper-gold mine in the developmental stage. It stands as one of the biggest untapped copper-gold projects in the world. The ownership structure includes a 50% stake held by Barrick, 25% by three federal state-owned enterprises, 15% fully funded by the Province of Balochistan, and 10% free carried by the Province of Balochistan.
Barrick is presently in the process of updating feasibility studies for the project, with a targeted production commencement date of 2028, following completion in 2024.
