• Ivanhoe Electric plans to continue and accelerate copper and nickel exploration at the Samapleu-Grata project in 2026.

• The partners will launch a 4,500-meter diamond drilling campaign across about 20 strategic targets starting in February.

• The project shows potential to produce nickel and copper concentrates over a mine life of more than 16 years, according to a 2024 study.

Ivanhoe Electric, a New York Stock Exchange-listed mining group backed by Canadian-American billionaire Robert Friedland, plans to continue investing in copper and nickel exploration at Samapleu-Grata in 2026. Sama Resources, Ivanhoe Electric’s local partner, disclosed the plan on Wednesday, February 4, and said the new campaign aims to “demonstrate the project’s district-scale potential.”

Ivanhoe Electric holds a 60% stake in the Samapleu-Grata joint venture, while Sama Resources owns the remaining 40%. A preliminary economic assessment published in 2024 estimates potential production of 887,414 tonnes of nickel concentrate and 621,888 tonnes of copper concentrate over an estimated mine life of 16.1 years.

While these volumes remain modest compared with some large African mining projects, the partners now seek to expand the project’s footprint to strengthen its long-term potential.

The companies will execute this strategy through a new exploration program scheduled to start in February. The program will include 4,500 meters of diamond drilling across around 20 strategic targets covering the entire project area.

The partners aim to evaluate the broader mineral potential and extend Samapleu-Grata’s mineralization beyond the area considered in the preliminary economic assessment. The 2024 study only covers a limited portion of the project perimeter.

Ivanhoe Electric and Sama Resources have not disclosed the budget for the 2026 exploration campaign. Ivanhoe Electric has already invested 25 million Canadian dollars, or about $18.2 million, to acquire its current stake under the joint-venture agreement.

A mine under planning in Côte d’Ivoire

The success of the upcoming exploration campaign could shape Samapleu-Grata’s development path. The results could support growth in identified copper and nickel resources and improve the production profile of a future mine.

Project sponsors already anticipate the next stage. They have launched environmental studies to secure the permits required to begin construction once conditions allow.

“The 2026 exploration program represents a crucial step to fully unlock the potential of the 879-square-kilometer district and builds on the success of our 2025 exploration program,” said Marc-Antoine Audet, president of Sama Resources. “With several high-quality targets still unexplored, we are implementing a targeted regional exploration strategy aimed at new high-grade polymetallic discoveries across our extensive land package. Above all, this program also advances the baseline environmental and social studies needed to position the project for long-term development and permitting.”

For Ivanhoe Electric, which holds assets across the United States, progress at Samapleu-Grata carries strategic weight. The group seeks to identify new deposits of critical metals for electric technologies, with copper as a top priority.

Success in Côte d’Ivoire would also mark another African win for Robert Friedland. Friedland already maintains a strong presence on the continent through Ivanhoe Mines, which operates major assets including Kamoa-Kakula, Africa’s largest copper mine.

Beyond its 60% stake in Samapleu-Grata, Ivanhoe Electric also owns 22.7% of Sama Resources. The companies have not announced any acquisition or full merger plans.

New discoveries at Samapleu-Grata could strengthen Côte d’Ivoire’s ambitions to scale up production of targeted metals. The country’s mining sector remains dominated by gold, but national nickel production grew at an average annual rate of 36.7% between 2017 and 2023.

The project also fits into a global race for critical minerals, especially among Western powers seeking supply alternatives to China. Samapleu-Grata remains distant from that stage for now, as the partners focus on proving sufficient commercial copper and nickel potential.

This article was initially published in French by Aurel Sèdjro Houenou

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM