Endeavour approves $1.2 billion Assafou gold mine in Côte d'Ivoire

Endeavour Mining has approved construction of the $1.2 billion Assafou gold project in Côte d'Ivoire, expected to produce an average of 320,000 ounces a year over its first eight years at all-in sustaining costs of $1,026 an ounce, with first gold targeted for the first half of 2029.

Why it matters: Assafou is one of Endeavour's largest growth investments and, with the Sabodala-Massawa underground expansion in Senegal, is meant to lift the West Africa-focused miner's annual production to 1.5 million ounces by 2030.

Data as of Mining.com report of November 12, 2026, read in full via the estate browser route, reporting Endeavour Mining's announcement of the same day alongside its third-quarter results. Single trade-press source for the construction approval. Developing item.

Endeavour Mining has approved construction of its $1.2 billion Assafou gold project on the Tanda-Iguela property in Côte d’Ivoire, with an initial mine life of 16 years, a processing plant designed for 5 million tonnes of ore a year, and first production targeted for the first half of 2029. The development budget is up $139 million, or 13%, from the $1.06 billion in April’s definitive feasibility study, mostly on higher land and crop compensation, and the company has awarded the engineering, procurement and construction management contract to Lycopodium and reached an agreement in principle on its mining convention with the Ivorian government.

The decision came with third-quarter results showing record free cash flow of $1.02 billion for the first nine months of 2026, up 50% year on year, and $263 million of net cash at the end of September after $412 million of gross debt reduction.

Endeavour approves $1.2 billion Assafou gold mine in Côte d'Ivoire

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