The Malian government has approved the creation of a new company for the domestic production of explosives for civilian use, in which the state will hold a majority stake.
The decision was taken during a recent cabinet meeting at the Koulouba Palace, where authorities endorsed a 51 percent state share in the Société Industrielle du Centre du Mali FARATCHI-CO-SA. The company was established in partnership with the Chinese firm Auxin under a shareholder agreement signed in November 2024.
The initiative is intended to reduce Mali’s reliance on imported explosives and ensure a secure supply for the mining sector, quarries, and major civil engineering projects, while strengthening government oversight of these sensitive materials.
Since 2022, Bamako has significantly tightened regulations governing explosives as part of efforts to combat terrorism and the proliferation of improvised explosive devices. New measures have imposed stricter requirements on prior authorisation, traceability, storage, transportation, and stock monitoring.
According to trade data, Mali imported around 5.2 million dollars’ worth of explosives and pyrotechnic products in the second quarter of 2023, largely for authorised industrial activities.
While officials have not yet disclosed the plant’s expected production capacity or start date, the project aligns with broader mining sector reforms and a new mining code aimed at increasing state participation and boosting local economic benefits.
- Latest
- Trending
