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Malian government helicopters landed unexpectedly at Barrick Mining Corp.’s gold mine on Thursday and seized more than a metric ton of the precious metal, according to the company.
The move marks another escalation in a protracted dispute between the West African country’s government and Toronto-based Barrick, which shuttered its giant Loulo-Gounkoto gold mining complex earlier this year after Malian authorities blocked bullion exports and detained senior employees.
The helicopters landed “unannounced” and took more than one metric ton of gold — equivalent to about 2,204 pounds — “potentially for sale by the provisional administration — though that remains to be seen and the situation is evolving,” Barrick said.
One metric ton of gold is worth about $117.2 million on Thursday, with gold trading around $3,324 an ounce.
The gold seized was in addition to three metric…
