Ivory Coast has approved 11 new mining exploration permits for both local and international companies, covering gold, cobalt, and copper.
Eight of the permits are for gold exploration, including firms such as Resolute Exploration Côte d’Ivoire, developer of the Doropo gold mine in the north, and Tieto Minéral, operator of the Abujar gold mine near Abidjan. Three additional permits target chrome, manganese, nickel, cobalt, and copper.
The move comes as Ivory Coast positions itself as a stable and investor-friendly hub for mining, contrasting with growing regulatory uncertainty in neighboring Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
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Gold production has risen sharply from 10 tonnes in 2012 to 58 tonnes in 2024, with output expected to reach 62 tonnes in 2025. The government aims for 100 tonnes annually by 2030, with mining now contributing 4% of GDP, up from 1.5% a decade ago.
By expanding exploration and opening the sector further to foreign and domestic investors, Ivory Coast hopes to diversify its economy beyond cocoa and solidify its role as a key player in Africa’s mining industry.
