Mali: 21 mining permit applications processed, but the thaw remains to be confirmed on the ground

Mali processed 21 mining exploration permit applications between August and September 2026, according to Chamber of Mines president Fousseni Togola. The figure marks a resumption of procedures after nearly four years of suspension, but does not mean that 21 new titles were awarded. The applications concern files examined amid mining code reform and upgrades to the cadastre. The central question now is how to turn the administrative restart into financed exploration.

A gradual reopening of procedures

The suspension of mining procedures announced in November 2022 was intended to improve authorization management. The new Mining Code adopted in 2023 established a revised framework, but the restart remained gradual. In March 2025, authorities first reopened processing of applications to renew existing titles and move from exploration to mining. New awards and transfers of exploration permits remained suspended at that time.

Renewals have since been announced, notably for gold and lithium permits. The 21 files processed in August and September provide a broader indication of the pace of review, without specifying how many were approved, rejected or returned for additional information. This distinction matters: processing a file is an administrative step, while an awarded permit grants a regulated right to conduct work.

The Council of Ministers also approved another round of renewals in late September. The government separately announced the creation of the Agency for Mineral Resources Research and Development. According to the Chamber of Mines, the entity is intended to help open new exploration areas and increase permits awarded to international partners. Available information on its budget, powers and establishment timetable remains limited.

The mining cadastre is central to confidence

A reliable cadastre makes it possible to locate titles, identify holders, check overlaps and track permit validity. In April 2026, Mali presented a new digital system intended to replace a tool authorities considered inadequate. Its effectiveness will depend on complete, updated data and the ability of businesses and citizens to access consistent information.

Publishing a cadastre does not by itself resolve processing delays or discrepancies between administrative registers. To reduce uncertainty, renewal and issuance criteria must be predictable, deadlines known and decisions explained. Investors must also be able to distinguish clearly between active permits, pending applications and areas open to new work.

Transparency is particularly important in a sector where permits determine exploration expenditure committed years before any possible production. Operators must finance surveys, studies and drilling without knowing in advance whether procedures will progress within timeframes compatible with their plans. Clearer administration can therefore help reduce risk, but regulatory stability and effective enforcement remain essential.

A restart amid declining exploration

The resumption follows three consecutive years of falling mining exploration expenditure in Mali through 2025, according to S&P Global’s World Exploration Trends 2026 report. The decline weakens renewal of the project pipeline and can delay discoveries that might support medium-term production. For a country heavily dependent on gold, restarting exploration is therefore an economic issue beyond mining companies’ activities.

Permit renewals help companies continue work already under way. Cora Gold, for example, presents renewal of its Sanankoro II permit as a step toward applying for a mining permit for a gold project estimated at $124 million. This prospect nevertheless depends on completing studies, obtaining financing and securing the necessary approvals. A renewed title guarantees neither mine construction nor an investment decision.

The government must also balance restarting projects with implementing new regulatory requirements. Sector reform aims to strengthen public control and domestic benefits; if procedures become too lengthy or difficult to interpret, companies may defer work. Confidence will therefore depend as much on the quality of rules as on their consistent implementation.

The next steps to monitor

Upcoming data should clarify the outcome of the 21 processed files, decisions actually made and the share of procedures still open. It will also be necessary to assess whether the new cadastre covers all titles and whether the announced mining agency has resources to support exploration. Permit awards are only one indicator; expenditure committed, field campaigns and drilling results will show whether activity has actually restarted.

The thaw in procedures is a positive signal for operators awaiting clarity on their titles. To turn it into investment, Bamako must make decisions verifiable, maintain consistency between the cadastre and registers, and provide clear deadlines to companies. The coming months will show whether the administrative restart of 2026 marks a new exploration phase or remains limited to regularizing existing permits.