Mali will partially lift a 2022 suspension on the issuance of mining permits on March 15, the mines ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The military-led West African country, one of Africa's top gold producers, suspended the allocation of mining titles throughout its territory in November 2022. At the time it said the move was an effort to improve the procedure.

In 2023, Mali signed a new mining code into law that raises taxes and seeks to hand over big stakes in assets to the state.

The suspension will be partially lifted following "major work to clean up the mining register," the ministry said in a statement.

Mali's mining administration will now receive applications to renew search and exploitation permits, applications to transition from search to exploitation, and applications to transfer exploitation permits.

The allocation of new mining permits, as well as the transfer of search permits, remain suspended.