In 2011, gold production in West Africa was up 9.3% from 2010, according to Economics Group’s (MEG) recent Strategic Report. Production was reported by nine of the 16 West African countries-Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. The largest gold-producing country continues to be Ghana, with 47% of the region’s total 2011 production. With the only new mine scheduled to begin production in 2012 – Noble Mining’s 90%-owned Bibiani (Government of Ghana 10%) – and three mines that began production in 2011 and are ramping up, Ghana is expected to continue as West Africa’s top gold producer. Mali produced 16% of the region’s gold followed by Burkina Faso at 15% and Guinea at 9%. Mauritania’s production increased marginally in 2011 to 4.5%, while Ivory Coast’s production, representing 5% of the region’s total, almost doubled, as its mines recover from the political turmoil that began in late 2010.
The report goes on to say that 70% of West Africa’s gold resources are contained in producing mines. West African gold mines in steady-state production hold 59% of the total gold in reserves and resources in active projects with reported resources. Mines undergoing expansion accounted for an additional 11%. Reserves development-stage projects hold 15%, feasibility-stage projects hold 10%, and preproduction-stage projects contain 5% of the total.
The piechart shows West African Gold Resources by Development Stage (Total contained gold: 298.7 Moz)
The West African Gold Pipeline, 2012 report contains details on
– West African Gold Production and Prices, 2002-11
– West African Gold Production by Country, 2011
– West African Gold Resources by Development Stage
– West African Gold Exploration Spending and New Mines, 2002-12
– West African 2011-12 Startups
– West African Preproduction-stage Mines
– West African Expansion-stage Mines
– Active West African Gold Resources by Country
– Largest West African Gold Resources