The country's biggest industrial mine, located north of the port city of Abidjan, started production towards the end of 2010 and was due to close in 2020.

But the discovery in 2021 and 2022 of four new pits around the mine, as well as a significant deposit with an exploration permit in the nearby region of Boundiali, will extend its life and boost output, Hilaire Diarra said in an interview.

Barrick Gold planned to process gold mined in Boundiali in Tongon. But the company is considering building a new mine in Boundiali in 2025 if the deposit turns out to be larger than the one in Tongo, he added.

The mine's output is expected to rise above 5 670 kilograms of gold in 2023 and continue to increase gradually until at least 2026, Diarra said.

--Reuters--