Ivory Coast continues to attract the attention of investors and mining experts with a major gold discovery. The Boundiali project, owned by Australian-based mining company Aurum Resources and backed by Chinese investors, has revealed a deposit of impressive scale. According to announcements made on December 30, 2024, the discovery concerns 1.59 million ounces of gold, or approximately 45 tonnes, located in the Bagoué region, in the north of Côte d’Ivoire.
This deposit, made up of five distinct mineralized zones, marks a turning point for the Ivorian mining industry. It demonstrates the significant potential of the region for increasing gold production in the long term. Aurum Resources Managing Director, Caigen Wang, said: “Since October 2023, our team has completed an intensive 63,927 meter diamond drilling program, rapidly defining a significant resource. We anticipate a further increase in resources in 2025 through the continuation of our exploration program. »
With this in mind, the company is planning an ambitious drilling program of 100,000 meters for the year 2025. This will make it possible to refine resource estimates and launch a feasibility study, the results of which should be known by end of next year. This study will provide crucial information to assess the production potential of this future mining site and the investments necessary for the development of the mine.
Over the past ten years, Ivory Coast has seen spectacular growth in its gold production, which has almost tripled to reach 51 tonnes in 2023. The Ivorian government has set an ambitious target of increasing this production to 100 tonnes. per year within five years. Discoveries like that of the Boundiali project will play a key role in achieving this objective.
-However, although the discovery is promising, several steps still need to be taken before the Boundiali project becomes an operational gold mine. After the feasibility study planned for 2025, further work will be necessary, such as environmental studies and mobilization of financing for the necessary infrastructure and equipment.
Moctar FICUU / VivAfrik
Canada
