Mali: Kalana, the country’s first industrial gold mine, soon to be operational?
Mali is preparing to turn a new page in the history of its mining industry with the upcoming reopening of the Kalana gold mine—the very first industrial gold mine in the country’s history. A major memorandum of understanding has been signed between the transitional government and the mining group Endeavour Mining, the current owner of the site. The announcement was made on Monday, July 28, 2025, on national television by Abdoul Aziz, CEO of Somika SA (Société des Mines d’Or de Kalana SA).
According to the agreement, actual construction of the site is scheduled to begin within six months, paving the way for the mine’s commissioning in the following 18 months. This project represents a strategic step in Mali’s pursuit of economic sovereignty, in line with the vision of the President of the Transition, General Assimi Goïta, who is committed to ensuring that natural resources benefit the Malian people.
Located in the south of the country, the Kalana mine holds significant gold reserves. Its future operation is expected to strengthen state revenues, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and support the development of local infrastructure around the site. The government also aims to enforce fairer mining governance, with greater control over production and taxation.
The revival of Kalana is part of the transitional authorities’ broader policy to reclaim national resources. It signals a break from the imbalanced contracts of the past—often signed under the influence of foreign interests—and the beginning of a new economic model based on responsible, equitable, and sovereign management of Mali’s mineral wealth.
