Barrick Secures Crucial Mining License in Mali, Paving Way for Strategic Focus
17.02.2026 - 22:55:04
Barrick Gold has successfully concluded a protracted two-year dispute with the government of Mali, bringing welcome certainty to its operations. The resolution, centered on the renewal of a critical mining license, removes a significant overhang that had been weighing on investor sentiment and secures the future of a major revenue-generating asset.
At the heart of the settlement is a ten-year extension of the mining license for the Loulo-Gounkoto complex. This site is a cornerstone of Barrick's portfolio, contributing approximately $900 million to the company's revenue in 2024 alone. To finalize the agreement and ensure long-term production continuity, Barrick withdrew its arbitration case previously filed with the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
This positive development complements the company's recent operational performance, which included robust fourth-quarter results and a dividend increase announced earlier. Despite these fundamentals, Barrick's share price has seen a recent pullback, declining roughly 8% over a 30-day period. However, the equity remains strongly positioned for the year, showing a gain of over 130% on a year-to-date basis.
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Strategic Shifts and Revised Forecasts
With stability now restored in Africa, market attention is shifting to Barrick's strategic moves in North America. The company is advancing plans to separate its assets in that region, targeting an initial public offering (IPO) for the new entity by the end of 2026. Concurrently, investors are digesting revised earnings estimates from Scotiabank, which has lowered its projections for the miner.
Barrick's own production guidance for the full year 2026 anticipates gold output between 2.90 and 3.25 million ounces, alongside copper production estimated at 190,000 to 220,000 tonnes. The secured license in Mali allows management to focus fully on the planned corporate restructuring. The success of the anticipated North American IPO later this year will likely hinge on the company's ability to maintain stable production metrics across its global mining portfolio.
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