BAMAKO, June 5 (Reuters) - A Malian court has adjourned

until June 12 a hearing on whether to put the Loulo-Gounkoto

gold mining complex, suspended since January due to a dispute

between its owner Barrick Mining ( B ) and Mali's government, under

provisional administration, a judge said on Thursday.

The government's request to appoint an administrator comes

amid soaring gold prices, and signals its desire to end the

standoff and reopen the complex.

Granting the request would represent a major escalation of a

years-long dispute over taxes and ownership between the West

African country and the Canadian miner, which suspended

operations in January after authorities blocked its exports and

seized its gold stock.

Barrick Mining ( B ), previously called Barrick Gold ( B ), has

said operations can only resume when the Malian government

removes the restrictions on gold exports imposed in November.

As a shareholder in the mining complex, the Malian state

last month asked the Bamako Commercial Court to appoint a

provisional administrator to take over the mines.

Barrick and the military-led government have been at odds

since 2023 over the implementation of a new mining code that

raises taxes and gives the government a greater share in the

gold mines.

Outside of court, negotiations between the two sides

continue, according to two people close to the talks. Barrick

has also launched an international arbitration case against Mali

over the dispute.

Gold prices hit a record $3,500.05 per ounce on April 22.