Côte d’Ivoire: Canadian Company Awalé Targets First Gold Deposit at Odienné by 2026

The gold industry in Côte d’Ivoire has been rapidly developing in recent years, with the government aiming to reach 100 tonnes of gold production by 2030, up from 58 tonnes delivered in 2024.

Awalé Resources, a Canadian junior mining company, announced plans to launch a 100,000-meter drilling program this October on its Odienné gold project in Côte d’Ivoire. The campaign aims to discover the first deposit on this asset by 2026.

The program will focus on definition and resource discovery drilling targeting the BBM, Charger, and Empire prospects. Five drilling rigs will be deployed on-site, and while the total campaign cost hasn’t been disclosed, Awalé has a cash reserve of CAD 15 million (around USD 10.7 million).

This initiative marks a significant step in advancing the Odienné project, following years of prospecting work to better understand its geological potential. A successful discovery would pave the way for new studies assessing the economic viability of a future gold mine at the site.

Awalé also plans a preliminary economic assessment in Q2 2026, leading to a pre-feasibility study by 2027, positioning Odienné as a potential contributor to Côte d’Ivoire’s growing gold industry.

Notably, Newmont, the world’s top gold producer, signed an agreement with Awalé in 2023 to acquire up to 65% of the project, contingent on USD 15 million in exploration spending and the discovery of at least 2 million ounces of gold at Odienné.