Mali’s industrial gold production reached 23.5 tonnes in the first half of 2026, compared with approximately 18 tonnes a year earlier, according to Mines Minister Amadou Keita’s October 22 briefing, reported during the following day’s news cycle. The ministry retained a full-year target of 43.2 tonnes. (eng.madar.mr)
The recovery follows a difficult 2025, when industrial production fell to 42.2 tonnes from 54.8 tonnes in 2024. The minister attributed much of that decline to lower output at Loulo-Gounkoto. He also reported that the Bougouni lithium operation produced 53,195 tonnes of spodumene concentrate between January and June 2026. (eng.madar.mr)
Separate current production data from earlier collections
The briefing repeated that an audit had recovered 761 billion CFA francs in mining-company arrears. Reuters reporting published before this window had already identified that amount as having been announced in December 2025. It should therefore not be presented as a fresh October 23 collection. (ca.marketscreener.com)
Keita also discussed canceled inactive permits, renewed exploration authorizations and continued enforcement against illegal mining. A renewed exploration permit does not itself authorize extraction—a distinction relevant to interpreting announcements as evidence of new producing capacity. (eng.madar.mr)