Barrick Mining Denied Request to Expedite Arbitration Case Against Mali
Barrick Mining’s Urgent Arbitration Request Against Mali Rejected Amid Mining Dispute
Barrick Mining’s request to fast-track its international arbitration case against Mali was rejected, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters on Friday.
The West African country’s government had been engaged in tense negotiations with Barrick since 2023 over the implementation of a new mining code that increased taxes and granted the government a larger share of gold mine revenues.
Barrick initiated arbitration proceedings with the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in December 2024.
The company sought urgent consideration of several issues, including the ongoing detention of four of its staff members, the appointment of a provisional administrator to operate the Loulo-Gounkoto complex after Barrick suspended operations amid the dispute, and the impending expiration of the Loulo mine’s licence in 2026.
The request for expedited proceedings was denied this week, the sources said.
ICSID stated on its website that it had issued an order regarding “provisional measures” on Wednesday but provided no further details.
Barrick declined to comment on the situation, while ICSID and Mali’s Ministry of Mines did not respond to requests for comment.
