Côte d’Ivoire has granted five new gold exploration permits to four companies, along with one copper and nickel title, for four years. The authorizations, adopted by the Council of Ministers on October 14, open new areas to exploration. They support the government’s ambition to make the country Africa’s leading gold producer by 2035. That trajectory will nevertheless depend on discoveries, studies and investment decisions that are not yet secured.
Six permits to broaden exploration
Awalé Resources receives two permits in the northwest: one covers the Gbéléban and Minignan departments, while the other is in Minignan. Etruscan Resources Côte d’Ivoire receives a title in the Bondoukou and Tanda areas. Smart Mining Group will be able to explore in M’Bahiakro and Bouaké, while Tietto Minerals Côte d’Ivoire receives a permit around Gagnoa and Soubré.
The sixth title concerns copper and nickel and was awarded to Switch Metals Côte d’Ivoire. It broadens exploration beyond gold, although the announcement does not yet specify budgets, work programs or initial targets for the two metals.
Exploration permits authorize companies to study the subsurface within a defined area; they do not automatically grant the right to operate a mine. Companies must conduct geological work, sampling, geophysical surveys and, depending on results, drilling. Any discovery must then undergo resource estimation and technical, environmental and economic studies before a development decision.
Production is rising, but a gap with Ghana remains
Ivorian gold production has grown rapidly over the past decade, from around 13.2 tonnes in 2012 to 59.33 tonnes in 2025. Authorities expect some 62 tonnes in 2026. This growth is supported by several mines entering production and expansions of existing sites, with new projects potentially strengthening volumes over the medium term.
The goal of African leadership by 2035 nevertheless remains ambitious. Ghana, the continent’s leading producer according to the figures cited for 2025, produced around 186.6 tonnes, more than three times Côte d’Ivoire’s output. Comparisons also depend on the statistical scope used, particularly whether artisanal production is included. Côte d’Ivoire will therefore need sustained growth and a continuing development pipeline to narrow the gap.
Koné, developed by Montage Gold, is one of the anticipated projects. The company announced a first gold pour in late September and is ultimately targeting annual production above 300,000 ounces, or around 9.3 tonnes. This target capacity concerns a project ramping up; it does not yet represent stable annual production.
New permits expand the portfolio without guaranteeing new mines
The authorizations allow companies to strengthen campaigns in a country attracting exploration investment. In September, Awalé Resources presented a fifteen-month, $8.5 million program for its Odienné landholdings, subject to obtaining the necessary permits. The relationship between this program and the two recently awarded titles will need clarification in company communications.
The exploration cycle can last several years and produce uncertain results. Companies may identify mineralization without finding sufficient volume, grade or continuity to envisage mining. They must also obtain environmental and social approvals, define infrastructure requirements and secure suitable financing.
For the state, more permits can renew the project portfolio and support geologists, laboratories and local service providers. Benefits will nevertheless depend on enforcing work obligations, publishing decisions and advancing projects toward more detailed studies. The number of titles issued is not, by itself, an indicator of future mining revenue.
An ambition to be tested over time
The next four years will allow assessment of programs associated with the titles and the quality of results. Indicators to monitor include budgets actually committed, drilling campaigns, confirmed discoveries and applications to move into mining. New data should also show whether investment is spread across several regions and benefits Ivorian suppliers.
The ambition to become Africa’s leading gold producer by 2035 provides direction for mining policy; it is not a certain forecast. Achieving it will require Côte d’Ivoire to support exploration, facilitate economically viable projects and manage the environmental and social issues associated with mining expansion. The six new permits enrich the pipeline, but their contribution can be assessed only as work progresses and geological results emerge.