• West Africa spotlighted at MFA25 for rapid gold project growth
• Region outpaces major producers with 127% output rise since 2010
• Investors wary of resource nationalism, new mining codes, logistics

The West African gold industry took center stage at the Mining Forum Americas 2025 (MFA25), an event held from Sunday, September 14, to Wednesday, September 17, in Colorado. While companies with operations in the region highlighted the challenges they face, a consensus emerged on the sector's dynamism, with projects moving from permit to production faster than in the Americas.

Companies active in the region that attended MFA25 included AngloGold Ashanti, Endeavour Mining, Allied Gold, and B2Gold. Several examples were cited to illustrate this momentum, such as the early commissioning of the Kiaka mine in Burkina Faso by West African Resources. Other highlights mentioned were the "imminent" production start of the Kiniero project in Guinea by Robex Resources, as well as the ongoing expansions of the Séguéla mine in Côte d'Ivoire and the Fekola mine in Mali.

Overall, a summary published on Thursday, September 18, on the event's website noted that "West Africa remains one of the world’s most productive and dynamic gold regions." This conclusion aligns with an analysis from gold company Aurum Resources in a June 2024 report. Titled "West Africa’s Gold: The New Caviar of the Gold Sector," the document described West Africa as the world's fastest-growing region for gold production, with a 127% increase between 2010 and 2022, surpassing China, Russia, Canada, and the United States.

While this momentum is expected to continue, it depends on sustained investment from mining companies, particularly in a regional context marked by rising resource nationalism. At the forum, B2Gold, which operates the Fekola mine, noted the "penalizing" effect of reforms from Mali's new mining code, adopted in 2023. Energy and logistical supply challenges also remain a key concern for producers.

Aurel Sèdjro Houenou