Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX) has struck a deal with unions representing workers at its Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex in Mali, averting strike action that was set to begin this week.
Bloomberg first reported on Sunday that the company had reached a new collective bargaining agreement with the workers’ unions.
The agreement was subsequently confirmed to Reuters by both Barrick and a union official.
Workers at Loulo-Gounkoto had threatened a four-day walkout beginning Monday (28 September) unless their demands were met.
Separate strike action had also been signalled by workers at Barrick’s catering and support contractor, as well as employees of Mali’s mining regulator and administration agencies.
“On Monday the 21st [21 September], after a meeting, an agreement was reached and the strike action has since been called off,” union official Bani Sacko tells Reuters.
“Apparently, all the other strike actions have also been called off,” he adds, noting that the Loulo-Gounkoto unions had submitted a list of 15 demands.
Disruption avoided
The agreement averts another potential disruption at Loulo-Gounkoto, one of Africa’s largest gold producers, following several years of tensions between Barrick and Mali’s military-led government.
The dispute began after Mali introduced a new mining code in 2023 aimed at increasing the state’s share of mining revenues.
Tensions escalated over the following two years, with Malian authorities detaining Barrick employees, demanding hundreds of millions of dollars in alleged unpaid dues, and seizing around 3 tonnes of gold from the company.
In June 2025, Loulo-Gounkoto was placed under provisional state administration following months of unsuccessful negotiations between Barrick and the Malian Government.
The dispute ended last year after the two sides reached a settlement. Barrick subsequently regained control of Loulo-Gounkoto and resumed operations at the complex.
Write to Jackson Chen at Mining.com.au
Main Image: Barrick Mining
