Côte d’Ivoire: AFG Holding and Montage Gold sign a credit agreement for the Koné gold project

On Friday, April 17, 2026, AFG Holding and Montage Gold concluded a credit agreement worth 31.5 billion CFA francs (~56 million USD), granted by two major subsidiary banks of the AFG Group, which are strongly committed alongside mining industries in their respective countries. This tripartite agreement aims to support the development of the Koné gold project.

Thanks to this agreement, AFG Holding positions itself as the local financing contributor to this large-scale project. The agreement was formalized in the presence of Mr. Koné Dossongui, Chairman of Atlantic Group, and Mr. Martino De Ciccio, CEO of Montage Gold.

Located in northwestern Côte d’Ivoire, the Koné project has a mine life of 16 years and an annual production exceeding 300,000 ounces of gold. Covering an area of 1,776 km², the project is based on solid technical and economic fundamentals, confirming its strategic role in the growth of the national mining sector. Once operational, the Koné project is expected to increase national gold production by nearly 20%, notably thanks to a large processing plant with a capacity of 11.0 million tonnes per year, enabling the treatment of low-grade ore.

The Koné project is currently expected to create more than 3,000 direct jobs during the construction and exploration phases, as well as a significant number of long-term employment opportunities during the operational phase. It will also contribute to the sustainable economic development of the areas where it is located, in compliance with environmental and social standards.

On this occasion, Mr. Koné Dossongui, founder of Atlantic Group, stated: “This financing granted to Montage Gold marks a key milestone in AFG’s strategy in the Ivorian mining sector. This agreement illustrates our ambition to sustainably support the economic development of our host countries by putting finance at the service of industry and territories. We are pleased to contribute not only to the establishment of a leading global player, but also to an impactful project that will serve as a driver of economic and community development for local populations.”

Martino De Ciccio, CEO of Montage Gold, commented: “We are pleased to progress in executing our strategy aimed at creating a leading gold producer, while positioning Montage Gold as the partner of choice for local stakeholders, thanks to our win-win approach and strong commitment to local content.”

This partnership with AFG underscores our long-term commitment to developing our presence in Côte d’Ivoire, with the support of strong and established partners sharing the same values. Together, we aim to make a meaningful contribution to the country’s economic and community development.

Our flagship Koné project continues to advance on budget and ahead of schedule, with first gold pour expected in Q4 2026. We have also built a portfolio of exploration projects, with the objective of becoming one of the country’s leading producers.