Canadian miner Barrick Gold has reached a new agreement with the Malian Government, potentially resolving a nearly two-year-old dispute over mining operations in the West African nation, reported Reuters,

Canadian miner Barrick Gold has signed a new agreement with the Malian government to end an almost two-year-old dispute over its mining assets in the West African country, four people familiar with the developments told Reuters on Wednesday.

Mali and Barrick Gold Corp.’s negotiations to end a protracted dispute over payments from the country’s biggest gold mine have been suspended, according to people familiar with the government’s position.

Barrick Gold (NYSE:GOLD) +3.2% in Wednesday's trading to its highest in more than two months following a Reuters report that the miner has signed a new agreement with Mali's government, which would end the dispute over the company's mining assets in the country.

Barrick Gold will resume operations at its shuttered Loulo-Gounkoto mine in Mali once authorities in the country allow it to resume gold shipments, CEO Mark Bristow told Reuters on Wednesday.