Mining and Petroleum
Mali’s mining sector, a rich but unexploited potential
Gold: Mali: Africa’s third largest gold producer with large scale exploration ongoing
Mali has been famous for its gold since the days of the great Malian empire and the pilgrimage to Mecca of the Emperor Kankou Moussa in 1324, on his caravan he carried more than 8 tonnes of gold! Numerous traces of ancient artisanal exploration can be found notably in Syama, Kourouba, Bougoudalé, Finkolo-ganadougou Kangaba and Kalana in Southern Mali and Kenieba in the West. Mali has therefore been traditionally a mining country for over half a millennium.
In today’s Mali, Gold has taken over from cotton as Mali’s leading export material during the last half decade. Mali is aiming for a 50 tonnes output in 2008 after production of 52.753 tonnes in 2007 and a peak figure of 63 tonnes in 2002.
Gold deposits and indications of the deposits are located in:
Mining Region No 1, Western Mali: Kayes administrative region
Gold deposits: Sadiola, Yatela, Loulo, Segala, Tabakoto, Farabantourou, Medinandi
Indication of gold deposits: Tintiba, Dioulafourou, Wili-Wili Mamoudouya Kome, Dandogo
Mining Region No 2: Southern Mali: Koulikoro and Sikasso Adminstrative Regions
Gold deposits: Syama, Kalana, Kodieran, Bale, Misseni Flat, Morila,
Indication of gold deposits: Sagala ( Morila) Kekoro ( Morila), Foulaboula, Pitiangoma, Narnpala and Darabougou, Kalaka, Kobada, Banancoro
Mining Region No 3: Northern Mali: Kidal administrative region
Gold deposits: In Darset
Uranium: encouraging signs and exploration in full swing
Exploration is currently being carried out by several companies with clear indications of deposits of uranium in Mali. Uranium potential is located in the Falea area which covers 150 km² of the Falea- North Guinea basin, a Neoproterozoic sedimentary basin marked by significant radiometric anomalies. Uranium potential in Falea is thought to be 5000 tonnes. The Kidal Project, in the north eastern part of Mali, with an area of 19,930 km2, the project covers a large crystalline geological province known as L'Adrar Des Iforas. Uranium potential in the Samit deposit, Gao region alone is thought to be 200 tonnes.
Diamonds:
Mali has potential to develop its diamond exploration: in the Kayes administrative region (Mining region 1), thirty (30) kimberlitic pipes have been discovered of which eight are show traces of diamonds. Some eight small diamonds have been picked in the Sikasso administrative region (southern Mali).
Precious stones consist of the following and can be found in:
Circle of Nioro and Bafoulabe: Garnets and rare magnetic minerals
Circle of Bougouni and Faleme Basin: Pegmatite minerals
Le Gourma – garnet and corindons
L’Adrar des Ilforas – pegmatite and metamorphosing minerals
Hombori Douentza Zone: quartz and carbonates
Iron Ore, Bauxite and Manganese: significant resources present in Mali but still unexploited
Mali has according to estimates 1360 million tonnes of potential iron ore reserves located in the areas of Djidian-Kenieba (10 MT), Diamou (150 MT) and Bale ( Kita)1200 MT.
Bauxite reserves are thought to be 1200 million tonnes located in Kita, Kenieba and Bafing- Makana. Traces of manganese have been found in Bafing – Makana, Tondibi and a potential of 15 million tonnes at Tassiga. Manag
Indications of manganese are located in Bafing Makana (Western Mali) and Tondibi (Northern Mali) and estimated potential of 15 MT in Tassiga (Northern Mali)
Other mineral resources and potential in Mali
- Calcarous rock deposits: 10 million tonnes est. ( Gangotery), 30 million tonnes est. ( Astro) and Bah El Heri ( Nord de Goundam) 2.2 Million tonnes est.
- Copper: potentialities in Bafing Makan ( Western Region) and Ouatagouna ( Northern Region)
- Marble : Selinkegny ( Bafoulabe) 10.6 MT estimated reserves and traces at Madibaya
- Gypsum: Taoudenit ( 35 MT est.), Indice Kereit ( Nord de Tessalit) 0.37 MT est.
- Kaolin: Potential estimated reserves ( 1MT) located in Gao ( Northern Region)
- Phosphate: Reserve located at Tamaguilelt, production of 18,000 t/per annum and an estimated potential of 12 million tonnes. There are four other potential deposits in the North of 10 million tonnes.
- Lead and zinc: Tessalit in the Northern Region ( 1.7 MT of estimated reserves) and traces in Bafing Makana ( Western Region) and Fafa (Northern Mali)
- Lithium: Indications in Kayes ( Western Region) and estimated potential of 4 million tonnes in Bougouni ( Southern Region)
Bitumen schist: Potential estimated at 870 million tonnes, indications found in Agamor and Almoustrat in the Northern Region. - Lignite: Potential estimated at 1.3 million tonnes, indications found in Bourem ( Northern Region)
- Rock Salt: Estimated potential of 53 million tonnes in Taoudenni ( Northern Region)
- Diatomite: Estimated potential of 65 million tonnes in Douna Behri ( Northern Region)
Mali’s Petroleum potential already attracting significant interest from investors
Mali’s Petroleums potential has been documented since the 1970’s where sporadic seismic and drilling revealed probable indications of oil. With the increasing price of global oil and gas resources, Mali has stepped up its promotion and research for oil exploration, production and potential exports. Mali could also provide a strategic transport route for Sub-Saharan oil and gas exports through to the Western world and there is the possibility of connecting the Taoudeni basin to European market through Algeria.
Work has already begun to reinterpret previously gathered geophysical and geological data collected, focussing on five sedimentary basins in the North of country including: Taoudeni, Tamesna, Ilumenden, Ditch Nara and Gao
In July 2008, the Malian government amended the petroleum exploration law, increasing the period of exploration from 10 to 12 years. The new law is aimed to increase the attractiveness of petroleum exploration, transportation and refining in Mali.
The Authority for the Promotion of Oil Exploration (AUREP) is the Malian government body responsible for ensuring that companies comply with the commitments that were made through the various conventions.
Interest in Mali’s oil and gas blocks has been very fervent, with at this time of writing only six blocks (4 new blocks amongst) available, two blocks under negotiation and nineteen already licensed by a wide array of both independent and major oil exploration companies from all corners of the world.
Websites of Interest:
Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water, Mali
Authority for the Advancement of Oil Exploration (AUREP)
Official site of Malian Presidency
