Mali’s gold production surges 30% in first-half of 2026, exceeding expectations

Mali’s gold mining sector shows strong recovery with production reaching 23.5 metric tons in the first six months of 2026, surpassing government forecasts and marking a significant rebound from last year’s challenges.

After a difficult 2025, characterized by tensions between the government and miners and a notable decline in output, Mali is demonstrating renewed strength in gold production. Industrial gold output rose about 30% compared to the same period last year, climbing from approximately 18 tons to 23.5 tons, exceeding the government’s projected 21.2 tons.

The country, one of Africa’s top gold producers, has implemented reforms aimed at increasing mining sector revenues, which initially caused some disruption. Despite these challenges, the latest data from Mali’s mines ministry indicates the sector is on track to meet or even exceed the full-year production forecast of 43.2 tons for 2026.

Key contributors to this growth include B2Gold’s Fekola mine, the largest producer with 8.85 tons, and Barrick’s Loulo operation, which already produced 6.9 tons, surpassing its total output of 5.5 tons in 2025. Other notable mines include Resolute with 3.0 tons and Allied with 3.5 tons.

In a further boost to the sector, Mali’s Council of Ministers recently approved a large-scale mining permit for B2Gold’s Menankoto project, facilitating the development of a new gold mine. This permit complements a pipeline of promising projects, such as Toubani Resources’ Kobada development.

B2Gold anticipates that Menankoto will produce over 150,000 ounces annually starting in 2028, while Kobada targets first gold in 2027 with an expected annual output of around 162,000 ounces.

This resurgence in Mali’s gold production highlights the country’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its mining industry and positions it for continued growth and increased revenues in the coming years.