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The
letter from CEO Mark Bristow to the Malian Mining Minister,
dated Monday, says Barrick is “awaiting official confirmation of
the proper receipt by the Malian Solidarity Bank,” a government
entity.
The seizure follows a warning letter to Barrick earlier this
month from Mali's senior investigating judge, Boubacar Moussa
Diarra, saying three tons of gold would be seized.
On Monday, a senior Barrick manager confirmed that three tons
had been seized by the military government and placed in the
capital, Bamako. The manager spoke on condition of anonymity
because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
According to the senior manager, the gold was taken from a mine
near Kayes in the west and transported by plane and truck to the
capital late Saturday.
The Malian authorities did not immediately respond for comment.
Valued at around $180 million, the gold seizure is part of the
dispute over revenues owed to the state.
In December, Mali issued an arrest warrant for Bristow for
charges of money laundering, without giving evidence, and
ordered the seizure of Barrick's gold reserves. The company has
offered to pay $370 million.
Mali's military government previously arrested four senior
executives of the Canadian mining company as part of the
dispute. They are still being held.
Mali is one of Africa’s leading gold producers, but it has
struggled for years with jihadi violence and high levels of
poverty and hunger. The military seized power in 2020, and the
government has placed foreign mining companies under growing
pressure as it seeks to shore up revenues.
In November, the CEO of Australian company Resolute Mining and
two employees were arrested in Bamako. They were released after
the company paid $80 million to Malian authorities to resolve a
tax dispute and promised to pay a further $80 million in the
coming months.
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Ahmed reported from Bamako, Mali.
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