Malian Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga met this Wednesday with Bill Lytle, Vice President of Operations at the Canadian mining company B2Gold, to review the company’s existing projects and explore future initiatives within the country.
B2Gold, which has operated in Mali for over a decade, runs the Fekola mine, a significant contributor to the nation’s gold output with nearly 600,000 ounces produced annually. By 2024, Mali is projected to account for approximately 70 percent of B2Gold’s global production, solidifying its position among the top three gold producers in West Africa.
During the discussion with Prime Minister Maïga, Bill Lytle formally requested government support to expedite administrative procedures for several key ventures. These include the development of an underground deposit at Fekola, the expansion of a “regional project” to new concessions, and the construction of a solar power plant. The proposed solar plant aims to decrease the mine’s energy reliance, enhance profitability, and reduce its environmental footprint. Projections indicate these new projects could collectively generate around 2,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The Prime Minister commended B2Gold’s substantial contributions to the Malian economy. He reaffirmed the authorities’ dedication to balancing the country’s national interests with maintaining an attractive investment climate. Maïga also underscored the importance of combating uncontrolled artisanal mining, which he noted causes environmental damage and bypasses official revenue channels.
Amadou Keita, the Minister of Mines, who was present at the meeting, assured the B2Gold delegation that his department is actively working to process applications swiftly to ensure the timely implementation of these projects.
This meeting follows a recently signed memorandum of understanding between B2Gold and the Malian government, which successfully resolved a tax dispute estimated at $30 million (approximately 18.3 billion CFA francs). This resolution has legally secured the planned expansion projects and is indicative of a strengthened dialogue within Mali’s mining sector, which is currently undergoing significant reforms.
Both parties concluded the meeting by agreeing to continue consultations in the coming weeks to finalize the announced investments.
MD/te/Sf/fss/abj/APA