The news come only a day after the project executive director in Chile, Eduardo Flores, told local media that Barrick was hopeful it could find a way forward with the long-delayed mine.
Nominee Amarjargal Renchinnyam is a respected economist who could help bring Vancouver firm's $5bn Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold expansion project back on track.
The world's largest mining company has scrapped the sale of Nickel West and will continue operating the unit after failing to find a buyer at the right price.