Côte d’Ivoire Extends Yaouré Gold Mine Exploitation Permit by Six Years

With 239,637 ounces produced in 2024, the Yaouré mine is among the largest industrial gold mines in Côte d’Ivoire. Perseus Mining, its Australian operator, plans to continue exploiting the mine until at least 2035, thanks to the development of an underground extension.

The Ivorian government has extended the exploitation permit for the Yaouré gold mine operated by Perseus Mining by six years. This decision, formalized during the Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday, September 17, extends the total duration of the permit to 17 years, compared to the initial 11 years stipulated in the decree issued in April 2019. This extension confirms the continuation of the project until 2036.

“This decree modifies the mining methods as well as the production profile initially planned to take into account the discovery of additional mineral resources estimated at 15.5 tons of gold in the deeper continuation of the mineralization,” said Amadou Coulibaly, the Ivorian Minister of Communication, in the official session report. “As a result, the 11-year production profile is extended by six years, making the mining permit valid for 17 years.”

This extension aligns with Perseus’ development plan, which now aims to operate Yaouré until 2035 through an underground extension. Scheduled to be commissioned in the first half of 2026, the project will require an investment of 170 million Australian dollars (approximately 113 million USD) and is expected to contribute about 50% to the mine’s annual production.

However, several steps remain before the plan can move forward. Among these is the approval by Ivorian authorities of the environmental and social impact study for the underground operation, a necessary green light to start construction. Achieving this milestone would not only support Perseus’ production outlook but also Côte d’Ivoire’s ambition to reach a national gold production of 100 tons per year by 2030.