Mali’s Gold Production Slumps in 2025 Amid Mining Disputes
Mali Gold Output Falls 22.9% in 2025 as Barrick Suspension and Mining Reforms Disrupt Production
Mali’s industrial gold production declined by 22.9 per cent in 2025, largely due to the prolonged suspension of Barrick Mining’s operations amid a dispute over tougher mining regulations, according to provisional data from the Ministry of Mines.
The West African nation, one of Africa’s leading gold producers, has been implementing reforms aimed at increasing state revenue and local value capture under a new mining code introduced in 2023.
As part of the reform process, a sweeping government audit led to the recovery of 761 billion CFA francs (approximately US$1.2 billion) in outstanding payments from mining companies, the government said in December.
However, the tougher regulatory environment unsettled some operators and triggered a nearly two-year standoff with Barrick Mining.
The dispute resulted in Barrick’s flagship Loulo–Gounkoto complex being placed under provisional administration, before an agreement was reached in late 2025.
According to data reviewed by Reuters, the standoff weighed heavily on investor sentiment and disrupted production across the sector, offsetting gains from new entrants and expansions at small-scale industrial mines.
Industrial gold output fell to 42.2 metric tonnes in 2025, down from a revised 54.8 tonnes in 2024. Production had peaked at 66.48 tonnes in 2023, prior to the regulatory overhaul.
Although the Loulo–Gounkoto complex, Mali’s largest gold operation, reopened in July 2025 under a state-appointed administrator, ongoing logistical challenges limited production to just 5.5 tonnes, sharply down from 22.5 tonnes in 2024.
During the year, B2Gold overtook Barrick to become Mali’s largest gold producer, with output of 17.5 tonnes, according to the ministry’s data.
Allied Gold ranked second, producing 9.58 tonnes, supported by its new Korali-Sud mine alongside the Sadiola operation, while Barrick placed third with 5.5 tonnes.
Artisanal gold production remained steady at six tonnes in 2025. Combined with industrial output, total national gold production reached 48.2 tonnes, representing a 22.7 per cent decline from the government’s original forecast of 54 tonnes for the year.
