Barrick Mali Strike Threats Target 190k Oz Output
Unions at Barrick's Loulo-Gounkoto complex threaten strikes starting September 28 over unpaid overtime and benefits, risking further production delays.
Key points
- Unions at Barrick's Loulo-Gounkoto complex threaten strikes starting September 28 over unpaid overtime and benefits.
- The complex produced 190,000 ounces of gold in H1 2026, well below pre-dispute levels.
- Mali has renewed 14 exploration permits since August, reopening its licensing regime after a two-year freeze.
Barrick Mining faces imminent labor disruptions at its flagship Loulo-Gounkoto complex in Mali, as multiple unions issued strike notices effective September 28. The actions target key operational and support functions, threatening to halt operations at one of the country’s largest gold producers just as output remains below pre-dispute levels.
According to documents reviewed by Mining.com, the strike notices cover mine workers at SOMILO SA and GOUNKOTO SA, as well as catering staff at Food & Events Africa. The unions cite unresolved demands regarding overtime pay, mission expense reimbursements, and the implementation of labor agreements that management has failed to address since February.
Strike notices span operational and support units
Workers at the Loulo and Gounkoto mines have called for four-day strikes from September 28 to October 1. Separately, the union representing Food & Events Africa, which handles catering and support services, has announced a five-day strike ending October 2 over unmet agreements on benefits and worker welfare.
The labor unrest extends to the regulatory sector, with unions at Mali’s National Directorate of Geology and Mines threatening a 72-hour strike from September 29 to October 1. These administrative workers are protesting unpaid salaries, allowances, and mining-sector bonuses, adding bureaucratic friction to the operational risks.
Production remains below pre-dispute benchmarks
Barrick regained operational control of the complex in December after a year-long state administration dispute. However, the ramp-up has been gradual, with the complex producing approximately 190,000 ounces of gold in the first half of 2026. This figure is significantly lower than levels recorded before the government intervention began.
Mali reopens licensing after cadastre freeze
The strike threats coincide with Mali’s reopening of its mining licensing regime following a two-year freeze tied to a cadastre clean-up. Authorities have renewed 14 gold and lithium exploration permits since August 21, involving eight companies including units of First Lithium and Cora Gold, signaling a broader push to expand sector revenue.
