Côte d’Ivoire reports major gold discovery as Aurum plans Boundiali mine

Australian mining company Aurum Resources has reported gold resources estimated at 115 tonnes at its Boundiali project in northern Côte d’Ivoire, with construction of a new mine expected to begin by the end of 2026.

The company’s chief executive, Caigen Wang, presented the results of two years of exploration to Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé during a meeting in Abidjan on Thursday, October 8. The company plans to begin gold production in the first half of 2028.

The project is expected to require an investment of about $503 million and produce approximately 6.2 tonnes of gold annually. Construction could generate around 4,200 direct and indirect jobs, while more than 2,200 jobs are expected during operations.

The Ivorian government has described the discovery as a major development for the country’s mining sector. The deposit could become one of the country’s largest as exploration continues. Aurum plans further drilling over the next three years to increase its estimated resources.

The project is part of Côte d’Ivoire’s broader effort to expand gold production and attract investment into its mining industry. However, the 115-tonne figure represents estimated gold resources, not metal already extracted, and the mine’s construction and production remain planned rather than completed.