Barrick Gold waves production halt in Mali due to regulatory dispute

Barrick Gold, the second largest gold mining company globally, said it mulls stopping production at its mine in Mali if the ban on shipments was not lifted.

The company made the threat in reaction to measures by Bamako authorities to renegotiate the permit in order to have a bigger share of operations in the gold mine.

Barrick Gold, whose Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex in Mali accounts for around 14% of its 2025 estimated gold output, has been in a dispute with the country’s government over a contract based on new mining rules since 2023.

Mali issued an arrest warrant against Barrick Chief Executive Mark Bristow.

Mali and other military-ruled states in the Sahel have pushed for renegotiating deals with western mine operators, surfing on a wave of anti-western sentiment.

Mali, Africa’s second-largest gold producer in 2023 and 11th globally, has a 20% stake in the Loulo-Gounkoto mine, with Barrick holding the remaining 80%.