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Four Barrick Gold staff members detained in Mali, miner says

Four staff members of Canada's Barrick Gold have been charged and detained pending trial in Mali, the company said on Tuesday, as the militaryled federal government strives to raise more money from mining business.

Mali is one of Africa's leading gold producers and briefly detained 4 senior regional staff members of Barrick in September. A. source knowledgeable about the matter informed Reuters that the very same. workers had actually been arrested again.

Barrick refutes the charges against its employees, the. business stated in a statement, without detailing the charges. It. added it would continue to engage with Mali's federal government to find. a friendly settlement and protect the release of detainees.

Because September 30, the company had been actively looking for. to finalize a Memorandum of Contract that would guide Barrick's. partnership with the federal government in future, consisting of the state's. share of the financial benefits, the declaration stated.

Barrick CEO Mark Bristow informed Reuters in early November that. the world's No. 2 gold miner was positive of dealing with claims. and conflicts with authorities before completion of the year.

Mali's mines ministry informed Reuters it was not straight. involved in the case, adding it was managed by the economy and. financing ministry and the justice ministry's financial division.

The West African country is requiring about $500 million in. unpaid taxes from Barrick, Reuters has actually reported citing sources,. as the federal government tries to wring more income from the sector to. shore up state revenues as rates of the rare-earth element rally.

Australia's Resolute Mining said recently its CEO. Terence Holohan and 2 other employees, who were apprehended by. the Mali government earlier this month, had actually been released from. the nation.

They left the capital Bamako after the miner agreed to pay. $ 160 million to the Mali federal government to help fix the tax. conflict.

(source: Reuters)