The Australian mining company Resolute Mining has announced the final investment decision (FID) for the Doropo gold project, paving the way for construction work to begin shortly. This new mine, located in the north-east of the country, represents a total investment estimated at US$516 million and aims to produce an average of 169,000 ounces of gold per year over a 13-year period.
Less than a year after acquiring the project from AngloGold Ashanti, Resolute Mining now holds all the necessary regulatory and environmental approvals, including the mining licence issued by the Ivorian government in early February. Construction work is set to begin in the first half of 2026, with an initial budget of between $170 million and $190 million for the first year.
The company plans to fund these costs using its current net cash position of $209 million, whilst at the same time exploring other financing options depending on how market conditions develop. Production is scheduled to commence in 2028.
This decision forms part of Resolute Mining’s regional expansion strategy; the company already has operations in Mali (Syama mine) and Senegal (Mako mine). In 2025, these two sites generated a total production of 277,236 ounces of gold. With Doropo, the group aims to increase its annual production to over 500,000 ounces by the end of 2028, almost double the current level.
“This final investment decision represents a significant milestone for Resolute and advances our strategy to become a diversified gold producer, on track to reach annual production of over 500,000 ounces by the end of 2028. “This decision reflects the quality of the Doropo gold project, the strength of our technical work and our confidence in the operating environment,” said Chris Eger, Chief Executive Officer of Resolute Mining.
For Côte d’Ivoire, the Doropo project comes at a crucial time. Domestic gold production, which stood at 58 tonnes in 2024, is expected to reach 100 tonnes within the next decade. The future mine will bolster the portfolio of major projects currently underway, alongside Koné (Montage Gold) and Assafou (Endeavour Mining), and will help to increase tax revenues and local economic benefits.
Resolute Mining is already preparing to expand its presence in Côte d’Ivoire through the ABC and La Debo projects, for which economic feasibility studies are currently underway. The current trend of steadily rising gold prices also offers favourable prospects for raising additional funds.
The Doropo project is now set to proceed according to the announced schedule, in an operational environment deemed favourable by the group. This new mine marks Resolute Mining’s official entry into the Ivorian mining sector and reinforces Côte d’Ivoire’s position as a prime destination for gold investment in West Africa.