The Ministry of Mines in Mali announced its expectations for the high production of industrial gold during 2025, after recording a noticeable decline in production last year. This expected recovery is attributed to the resumption of the activities of the Canadian “Barrick Gold” company, one of the largest gold mining companies in the world, after a stopping of several months due to a dispute with the financial government.
According to the Ministry’s estimates, gold production in Mali is expected to reach about 54.7 meters in 2025, compared to 51.7 tons in 2024, an increase of approximately 6%. This improvement comes after a 23% decrease compared to the production of 2023, which amounted to 66.2 tons.
Gold Emad Economy
Mali is the third largest gold producer in Africa after South Africa and Ghana, and this sector is one of the main pillars of the national economy, as it contributes about 25% of GDP.
The country includes more than 15 active industrial mine, managed by international mining companies such as “Parik Gold”, “B2Gold”, “Endaavour Mining”, “Resolution Mining”, and “Hummingbird Resources”.
Barrick’s dispute with the government
Last January, the activities of the “Lulu-Gonkoto” complex stopped completely, after the financial government, under a military leadership since the 2021 coup, imposed a ban on gold shipments from the mine, and confiscated about 3 tons of gold.
The authorities also arrested 3 company employees on charges related to money laundering and terrorist financing, accusations that Barrick categorically rejected.
In an effort to contain the crisis, the company reached an initial agreement with the financial government in February, to end a long -term tax dispute that lasted about two years. However, the agreement has not yet been approved, which raises a state of anticipation in economic and mining circles.
Positive indicators
Barrick Gold CEO, Mark Presto, said in an interview with Reuters on February 12 that the resumption of operations in Mali was possible as soon as the company is allowed to export its gold again.
He added that the company is committed to investing in Mali in the long term, despite the security and political challenges.
Mali enter the world of lithium
In addition to gold, Mali scored a new strategic step by entering the field of lithium production, the primary metal for the battery industry, as it started production from the “Golaamina” mine last December, which is run by the Chinese company “Janfng”.
The mine production is expected to reach 381,959 tons of lithium in 2025, which strengthens the Mali site as a source of strategic minerals required in global energy transformation.
Government expectations about the recovery of gold production in Mali reflects preliminary indicators of relative stability that the country may witness after years of political and security crises.
As it enters the global lithium market, Mali appears on its way towards diversifying its sources of income and consolidating its position as a major axis in the African Mining Map, if it is able to address the legal and institutional challenges facing international investors.
