Mali says it could leverage revenues from its 2023 mining sector reforms to raise up to 500 billion CFA francs (approximately $883.1 million) for energy, water, and transport infrastructure projects, according to the country's finance minister.
The move marks the first clear signal of how Mali's government plans to channel windfall mining revenue into infrastructure financing, following a 2023 mining code overhaul that raised royalties and increased state stakes in mining projects reforms that have sparked disputes with international operators. A government audit reported in December recovered 761 billion CFA francs in alleged arrears from mining companies.
Finance Minister Alousseni Sanou said Mali's Energy, Water and Transport Infrastructure Development Fund, created in 2023 and funded exclusively by mining permit holder contributions, had mobilized 109.14 billion CFA francs between January 2025 and June 2026. The fund draws 1% of quarterly turnover and 10% of ad valorem taxes during a mine's first five years, rising to 2% thereafter, generating at least 50 billion CFA francs annually a base Sanou said could be leveraged into significantly larger financing.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Dembele Madina Sissoko said proposed projects include railway development, road construction, boat acquisitions, and initiatives tied to state-owned Mali Airlines.
SMM View: Mali's approach reflects a broader shift among African resource producers seeking greater domestic value from mining revenues echoing Ghana's use of mineral income to fund its "Big Push" infrastructure programme. As mining linked capital increasingly funds public infrastructure, it could reshape investment conditions and state-operator dynamics across West Africa's critical minerals sector.
