• Mali faces fuel crisis due to JNIM blockade, disrupting daily life

• Gold mines largely stable, aided by fuel reserves and solar systems

• Output risk grows as crisis persists; 2025 production already down 32%

For some two months now, Mali has been grappling with a fuel shortage caused by a blockade imposed by the terrorist group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). The energy crisis has disrupted economic and social life, particularly in the capital Bamako, but the country’s major gold producers appear largely unaffected so far.

In an October 15 update, Canada’s Allied Gold acknowledged supply disruptions in some regions but said operations at its Sadiola mine “remain normal.” The statement followed a Reuters report earlier in October that the Malian army had halted 70 fuel trucks bound for Sadiola to assemble a sufficient military escort before allowing the convoy to proceed.

Robex Resources said in its third-quarter 2025 report, released on October 31, that its Nampala gold mine in Mali remains on track to meet annual production targets. The company cautioned, however, that this performance will depend on “the reliability of fuel supply” and the broader operational environment in the country.

Other mining companies operating in Mali have not reported major disruptions linked to the fuel crisis. Alongside military protection for supply convoys, other factors may explain why the mining sector has been relatively insulated. Most mines have significant fuel storage capacity and backup energy systems, allowing them to maintain operations for extended periods even when deliveries are delayed.

In 2021, Resolute Mining, owner of the Syama gold mine, completed a hybrid power plant that includes a 10 MW battery storage system and a 4-million-liter bulk fuel storage facility, enough to cover more than 30 days of consumption.

Although Mali’s mining operations still rely heavily on diesel generators, the shift toward renewable energy is gaining ground. The Loulo-Gounkoto and Fekola gold mines already operate solar power units. In early October 2025, Allied Gold joined this trend with plans to build a 35 MW solar plant at Sadiola by 2027.

Despite government efforts since September, the fuel crisis shows no sign of easing. Without a sustainable solution to the blockade and ongoing militant attacks, the question may no longer be whether Mali’s gold mines will be affected, but when. The situation poses an additional threat to Mali’s industrial gold output, which fell 32% year-on-year as of the end of August 2025.

Emiliano Tossou