Canadian miner Barrick Gold said it will have to suspend mining operations in Mali after the government seized gold stocks from the company's Loulo-Gounkoto complex and flew them out by helicopter over the weekend.

Malian authorities have confiscated about 3 metric tons of gold from Barrick Gold's Loulo-Gounkoto mining site due to an ongoing dispute. The gold, valued at $245 million, is now held at Banque Malienne de Solidarite.