Cote d’Ivoire’s gold output is expected to hit a record high this year, boosted by production from the Lafigue mine, which was inaugurated in 2024, a top industry official, Jean-Claude Diplo said.

The world’s largest cocoa producer is seeking to develop its long-neglected mining sector to diversify sources of income.

The Lafigue mine, located about 500 km north of the West African country’s commercial capital Abidjan and operated by London-listed Endeavour Mining, is expected to produce between 180,000 and 210,000 ounces of gold in 2025.

Diplo, whose term as the head of mining association GPMCI ended on Friday, said Cote d’Ivoire’s gold production would rise to 62 metric tons this year from 58 tons in 2024.

“Growth will come from the Lafigue gold mine, which is about to go into full production,” Diplo said in an interview conducted in Abidjan, adding that heavy investment in another major mine would also allow the country to increase its output.

Gold output has been climbing steadily for several years and Diplo said Ivory Coast would soon overtake neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso in terms of production and reach Ghana’s output levels.

“We have the potential to go very fast… If we are disciplined, as we are today, we will be on a par with Ghana in 2030, according to our projections,” Diplo added.

Mining companies Barrick Gold, Perseus Mining and Roxgold are also operating in Cote d’Ivoire. Mining.com