In Mali, the Canadian mining group Barrick Mining anticipates Attributable production of between 260,000 and 290,000 ounces of gold in 2026 for the Loulo-Gounkoto mine, according to its financial report published on Thursday 5 February. Beyond the numerical forecast, this announcement marks above all the return of this strategic asset to the group's production plans, after its withdrawal last year against the background of continuing tensions with the Malian State.

The largest gold mine in the country, Loulo-Gounkoto was at the heart of a protracted standoff between Barrick and the authorities in Bamako, resulting from the willingness of the State to apply the provisions of the new Mining Code adopted in 2023. The dispute intensified in January 2025, when the company decided to close the site following the seizure by the State of a gold stock, leading Barrick to exclude the mine from its production forecasts for the exercise.

After several months of downtime, the site was placed under provisional administration in June 2025, at the request of the government, in the perspective of a resumption of operations. A decisive advance has taken place in November, with the signing of an agreement to end the dispute. In particular, it provided for the abandonment of all charges brought against Barrick's Malian subsidiaries, the return of the seized gold stock as well as the return of operational control of the site to the company.

In return, Barrick has committed to removing international arbitration proceedings initiated against Mali and payable 253 millions of dollars to the state. According to the note published by the group, this framework of settlement has been fully implemented, allowing the effective resumption of operational control of Loulo-Gounkoto on December 18, 2025 and a restart of production in the last days of the year.

Taking into account the production carried out before the closure and the one recorded at the end of the fiscal year, Barrick reports a attributable production of 29,000 ounces in 2025, based on its participation by 80%. Including the 20% share held by the Malian State, production total delivered over the year would thus amount to approximately 36,200 ounces of gold. Despite information indicating a resumption of extractive activities during the period of provisional administration, no corresponding production has, at this stadium, has been officially recorded.