TORONTO (Reuters) - Barrick Gold, the world's No. 2 miner, is confident of concluding talks for a new mining code with Mali's junta-led government before the end of the year, CEO Mark Bristow told Reuters on Thursday.
Talks between Toronto-based Barrick with the authorities in Mali on how to implement new mining rules governing its Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex, one the biggest gold mines in Mali, have dragged on for months.
The West African country is demanding about $500 million in unpaid taxes from Barrick, Reuters reported citing sources, as the government tries to wring more income from the sector, which is dominated by gold miners, to shore up state revenues as prices of the precious metal rally.
(Reporting by Divya Rajagopal in Toronto and Felix Njini in Johannesburg; Editing by Susan Fenton)
By Divya Rajagopal and Felix Njini
