Small scale phosphate mining occurs in the Tilemsi Valley in the southeast. An estimated 1.1 billion tons of bauxite is located in three areas between Kenieba and Bamako. The mineral law is based on the French civil law. Licences are controlled by Decree No. The State owns all the mineral rights.
Standard agreements are available.
A scale of fees based on area is applied to mineral licences. The agreement, negotiated between the parties, comprehensively fixes all the conditions that will apply to the exploration and, in the event of a discovery, exploitation periods. The conditions include work obligations, reporting, taxes, duties, duty-free arrangements, state equity participation, etc. It is granted for three years, but after two years, half of the permit area must be relinquished in one or several areas at the discretion of the holder. An exploration permit is renewable twice for a further three years over an area which again must be reduced by half each time.