Gold mine in Mali. 723 koz (22.5 t) in 2024; 177 koz (5.5 t) in 2025 during the suspension; 2026 guidance 260–290 koz attributable (Barrick 6-K, Aug 2026)
Origin: Mali
Region: Kayes & western Mali
Site data
- Commodity: Gold
- Tier: Tier 1 (03 Resources Map tier rule)
- Status: Producing: Producing again since Barrick regained control on 18 Dec 2025; seized and state-administered Jan–Dec 2025
- State takeover flag: yes (seizure, nationalisation, permit withdrawal or state administration since 2023)
- Operator / ownership: Barrick Mining (Canada) 80%, Mali 20%
- Production: 723 koz (22.5 t) in 2024; 177 koz (5.5 t) in 2025 during the suspension; 2026 guidance 260–290 koz attributable (Barrick 6-K, Aug 2026)
- Coordinates: 13.0698, -11.3835 (OSM ‘Gold Mine, Loulo’; Gounkoto pit 12.875,-11.392 (USGS, OSM))
Security context
- The 2025 crisis was a state–company fight, not an armed attack: ~3 t of gold was flown out by helicopter on 11 Jan 2025, Barrick suspended operations on 14 Jan, a court put the complex under a provisional administrator (ex-health minister Soumana Makadji) on 16 Jun, and a military helicopter airlifted ~1 t more on 10 Jul. Four Barrick staff were detained from Nov 2024 and a warrant issued for ex-CEO Mark Bristow.
- Settled on 24 Nov 2025 (~200M was paid in Apr 2026. The largest contractor (GMS) quit in May 2026, cutting ~600 jobs.
- Security: no attack on the mine itself found. It sits in Kéniéba cercle, inside JNIM’s western fuel-blockade zone: see JNIM attacks in Kayes region (Jul 2025) and Bamako fuel blockade (2025-26). No Africa Corps guard detail reported.
Sources
- Barrick 6-K MD&A, 10 Aug 2026: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000756894/000119312526343857/d67611dex992.htm
- Ecofin, settlement, 25 Nov 2025: https://www.ecofinagency.com/news-industry/2511-50787-barrick-and-mali-reach-deal-to-restart-loulo-gounkoto-operations
- Mining Weekly, gold airlifted under administrator, 11 Jul 2025: https://www.miningweekly.com/article/mali-military-helicopter-airlifts-gold-from-barrick-owned-loulo-gounkoto-2025-07-11
- IISD, settlement implemented, 9 Sep 2026: https://www.iisd.org/itn/2026/09/09/barrick-and-mali-implement-settlement-ending-icsid-dispute-over-loulo-gounkoto/
- Map and tier rule: 03 Resources Map
Relationships
- Seized and administered by (2025): FAMa (Mali)
- Supply roads hit by: Bamako fuel blockade (2025-26)
- Area contested by: JNIM
Referenced by
Media
Zoom A: Kayes and the western Mali–Senegal gold belt.