Mali would not be able to run the plant until locals have...

Mali would not be able to run the plant until locals have sufficient training and experience. That could take a few years??
Sooner or later, this has all got to come to a head. The new mining law makes hiring non Malians very restricted.
According to an earlier post, Mali is trying to fleece around $400 mill from Barrick in back taxes.
Mali have likely asked for substantially more than what we want to settle for.
I think it will eventually settle.
I do not think the Junta would care less if 1800 locals were put on unpaid leave.
How much of the hundeds of millions of dollars Mali is trying to fleece from miners find its way back to locals? Probably not much.