By: Ecofin agency

Canadian junior miner Awalé Resources announced on Tuesday, May 19, the publication of the first mineral resource estimate for its Odienné gold project in Côte d’Ivoire, marking the confirmation of the asset’s first three gold deposits and laying the foundation for a potential future mine development.

The company described the milestone as the continuation of exploration work conducted over recent months at the site.

Odienné hosts an inaugural resource estimate of 1.38 million ounces of gold alongside 93,000 tonnes of copper distributed across the BBM, Charger and Empire deposits.

The estimate includes both open-pit and underground mineralization, while Awalé identified BBM as the project’s flagship deposit.

Awalé said the development met expectations attached to the project and opened the way for a preliminary economic assessment (PEA), which the company expects to complete in the third quarter of 2026.

The study will provide the first technical and economic indicators for a potential mining operation. Awalé plans to follow the assessment with a prefeasibility study (PFS) scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2027.

Through these next phases, the company intends to evaluate the commercial development potential of Odienné. However, the project will still require additional work to improve confidence levels associated with current resources.

Awalé already sees the possibility of upgrading part of the resource into higher classification categories, while drilling campaigns continue to support that objective.

“We believe Odienné has the potential to become a much larger gold and copper system as we continue resource growth, category conversion and mining scenario optimization,” said Andrew Chubb.

Meanwhile, Odienné adds to the growing list of emerging industrial-scale gold projects in Côte d’Ivoire’s mining sector. In late April, Australian junior miner Many Peaks Minerals also published an initial resource estimate exceeding one million ounces of gold at its Ferké project.

Later this year, Canadian company Kobo Resources also expects to publish a maiden resource estimate for its Kossou project.