The opening of new mines has prompted record production in Côte d’Ivoire in 2023, a production that, according to mining minister Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, is set to increase further.
Ivory Coast, the world’s leading cocoa producer, is seeking to develop its long-neglected mining sector to diversify its sources of income and the nation’s gold output has been steadily increasing for several years and expects it to reach 56 tons this year, Coulibaly told reporters at a news conference.
Ivory Coast’s production of the yellow metal rose to 51 tonnes last year, up more than 6% from 48 tonnes in 2022.
Mining companies operating in Côte d’Ivoire include Barrick Gold, Endeavor and Perseus mining. In September, Canada’s Roxgold also opened a new gold mine in the northwest region, aiming to produce around 130,000 ounces of gold per year. Barrick Gold said in July that its Tongon mine, which is expected to produce more than 200,000 ounces of gold in 2023, will continue to operate until at least 2030 following a significant discovery of new deposits.
In the meeting with journalists, Coulibaly also said that two electricity generation plants with a capacity of 488 MW have been closed, forcing the country to reduce energy exports to neighboring countries.
Ivory Coast’s total electricity capacity is currently 2,907 MW, he said, adding that by 2030 the country will become a net exporter of oil.
Source Reuters
