Tanzania just hit Acacia Mining Plc with a tax bill equal to almost two centuries worth of the gold producer’s revenue.

The government issued the company, which mines all of its gold in the African country, with a $40 billion tax bill and another $150 billion in interest and penalties, Acacia said in a statement Monday. The charge covers alleged under-declared export revenues from the Bulyanhulu and Buzwagi mines over periods between 2000 and 2017.

Acacia reiterated that it has fully declared all revenues. The stock extended a slump after the statement, closing down 21 percent in London to the lowest since January 2016.

The giant tax bill is the latest twist in an increasingly ugly spat between the government and Acacia. In March, Tanzania banned exports of unprocessed gold and copper, a move Acacia said is costing it about $1 million a day in lost revenue. The situation escalated when the government accused the firm of operating illegally in the country and said mine operators had been evading taxes.

“The company is considering all of its options and rights and will provide a further update in due course,” Acacia said in the statement.

At least two senior employees have been detained for questioning by Tanzanian authorities this month, while other employees have been interviewed by the police. On Friday, Acacia said the dispute had depleted its cash balance to $176 million from $318 million a year earlier and that it will have to shutter its flagship Bulyanhulu mine at the end of this quarter if the situation is not resolved.

To put the size of the bill in perspective, Acacia had total revenues of $1.05 billion last year and has reported sales of a total of $7.7 billion since 2009.

Source:
courtesy of BLOOMBERG

by Thomas Biesheuvel

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