In an interim update issued on December 23 B2Gold stated that its Masbate Gold Project operations remained on track to deliver to the updated guidance for 2014 of approximately 180,000 ounces of gold. The company also said that the SAG mill was continuing to perform well.

Throughput for October was 613,400 tonnes at an average grade of 1.29 grams/tonne and November was 601,164 tonnes at 1.38 grams/tonne. October monthly adjusted gold production was 21,177 ounces and, for November, 22,429 ounces were produced. B2Gold said December production remained strong as well.

The company also announced the shooting death of a Masbate Gold Project (Philippine Gold Processing & Refining Corp) employee following an altercation with a KKSS (Kublai Khan Security Services) employee, at the mine site on Saturday December 20.

The shooting victim is a long-term employee, Jessie Villegas. The security guard is in the custody of the Philippine National Police at Aroroy and the incident is under investigation by the police. Mr Villegas is survived by his wife, Antonieta Marcial Villegas, and 11 children. B2Gold extends condolences to the family and friends of Jessie Villegas.

A Masbate Gold Project review of the incident and related procedures is ongoing, and counselling has been made available to the employees.