One of the next major hurdles in Barrick Mining Corp.’s saga in Mali will be renewing a key gold mining license, after the state temporarily took over the vast Loulo-Gounkoto complex this week. The permit for Loulo, where processing facilities are located, expires in February, shortly after the period of provisional administration is supposed to end. Barrick filed a renewal request four months ago, a spokesperson for the company said, adding that a separate license for Gounkoto runs for another 17 years. Barrick’s woes in the West African nation experienced a dramatic escalation on Monday when a Malian court ruled ... (full story)