Ivory Coast Grants Gold Exploration Permit in Northeastern Region

Côte d'Ivoire’s government has granted a gold exploration permit to Exploration Mining Investment Limited Côte d’Ivoire SARL in the northeastern department of Kong, according to a statement issued after Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.

The decree, approved during the Council of Ministers, authorizes the company to conduct gold exploration activities for a period of four years. Authorities said the permit is subject to compliance with the country’s technical, administrative and environmental regulations governing mining operations.

Kong department, located near the border with Burkina Faso, is among several areas where mining exploration activity has accelerated in recent years as Côte d'Ivoire expands its extractive sector.

The West African nation, the world’s largest cocoa producer, has been seeking to diversify its economy by increasing investment in mining, particularly gold production. The government aims to position Côte d'Ivoire as one of the region’s leading gold producers alongside Ghana, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Officials say multiple exploration and mining permits have been issued since 2024 as part of efforts to attract foreign investment into the sector.

No official estimate of potential reserves in the Kong permit area has yet been released, and the company has not publicly disclosed a timeline for exploration activities.

The government has said mining projects must comply with environmental standards and commitments related to local community development.