BAMAKO, June 30 (Reuters) - Mali has completed its

takeover of the Yatela and Morila gold mines abandoned by their

previous owners, the government announced at the weekend, but

questions remain over how any untapped value can be released.

The takeovers and failure to disclose how the operations

will be funded highlight the complex challenges facing Mali as

it seeks to regain control of its natural resources and leverage

high commodity prices to boost the economy, mirroring moves by

other West African states including Burkina Faso and Niger.

Mali's military leaders, who took power after coups in 2020

and 2021, announced their intentions to nationalise the mines

last year.

Since taking power the military government has pressured

foreign mining companies through increased taxes, revised

contracts, regulatory crackdowns and a general pivot from

Western investors to Russian interests.

Mali produces about 65 tons of gold annually, making it

Africa's second-largest producer. Gold prices, meanwhile, have

remained strong this year, spurred largely by U.S. President

Donald Trump's tariff impositions and wider geopolitical

uncertainty.

However, making a success of Mali's gold assets has

previously proved difficult.

The Yatela mine in Mali's western Kayes region was abandoned

in 2016 after Sadiola Exploration Company - a joint venture of

South Africa's AngloGold Ashanti ( AU ) and Canada's IAMGOLD ( IAG )

- determined that low prices made operations

uneconomical despite unexploited reserves.

The Morila mine in the southern Sikaso region was similarly

abandoned in 2022 by Australia's Firefinch, which had

acquired stakes from mining giants Barrick Mining ( B ) and

AngloGold Ashanti ( AU ), leaving what the government's weekend

statement described as "significant environmental and financial

liabilities".

The mines will be revived by the newly established Society

for Research and Exploitation of Mineral Resources of Mali

(SEMOS), the government's statement said without specifying how

they would be run and financed.

However, extracting value from Yatela and Morila will

clearly be no easy task while the government attempts to reopen

Barrick's mine complex.

The Canadian company's Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex was

placed under state control this month in a major escalation of a

protracted dispute over taxes and ownership.

(Reporting by Mali newsroom

Writing by Maxwell Akalaare Adombila

Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and David Goodman

)