BARRICK Mining had its Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex in Mali placed under state control by a court on Monday in a major escalation of a dispute over taxes and ownership, Reuters reported. Former Malian health minister Soumana Makadji will take over as provisional administrator for six months,

The ruling junta in Mali is tightening its hold on the gold industry as it moves to reclaim control from established foreign operators and boost local processing capacity through investment from Russia.

A judge in Mali has placed Canadian mining company Barrick Gold under provisional administration in an ongoing dispute with the military government over alleged unpaid taxes