Mining companies operating in Mali, Africa’s 3rd largest gold producer, will no longer be exempt from VAT during production and will have a shorter period of protection from fiscal changes, according to a new mining code announced by the Mines Ministry, Reuters reports.
The new code seeks to redress the “shortcomings” of a 2012 law by bringing a “substantial increase” in the contribution of the mining sector to the economy, the Mines Ministry says.
While short on specifics, the new code shortens the “stability period” during which mining companies’ existing investments are protected from changes to fiscal and customs regimes. Under the previous law, the stability clause was 30-years, but it has not yet been made clear what the new stability period will be.
Companies with gold mines stakes in Mali include Barrick Gold Corp, AngloGold Ashanti, B2Gold and Hummingbird Resources.