The Minister of Mines and Geology congratulated on May 10, 2019, Sama Nickel Côte d'Ivoire, which says it has made significant discoveries of nickel, copper and palladium deposits from 2010 to 2014, in Samapleu, of 60 million tons on the surface.

“60 million tonnes of nickel reserves is important, but the most important thing is that exploration continues, that the prospects are even better.

We will thus be able to lay the foundations for operations that will take more than 100 years,” said Minister Jean-Claude Kouassi.

Continuing, he wished that the local populations accompany the mining industries which settle there.

Because, he will say, when an industrial mine is set up, a local mining development committee chaired by the prefect is set up and this committee receives 0.5% of the mining company's turnover to participate to local development.

"It's a win-win partnership that allows the creation of income-generating activities," he said.

Finally, he recalled that the mining sector is one of the pillars of the national economy. This is why the President of the Republic Alassane Ouattara and the Prime Minister emphasize the need to promote mining diversification.

Previously, the CEO of this company, Dr. Marc Antoine Aude and his collaborators were delighted with the minister's visit, which testifies to the authorities' interest in the mining sector.

Speaking of the discoveries of nickel, copper and cobalt deposits in the Yepleu area, he explained that it is the continuity of the exploration that has been done since 2009 in the Tonkpi region.

Where Sama Nickel to develop a surface resource for the Samapleu deposits of 60 million tonnes of resources available for open pit operation.

He said that the company is facing a number of challenges which are, among others, the development of the future Samapleu base metal mine, the extraction of ore for the production of nickel and iron powder with high added value.

To meet these challenges, he indicated that Sama Nickel Côte d'Ivoire needs additional resources. “The resources are available.

We intend to put them into production in the coming years to produce Nickel Powder, Iron Powder and Copper Concentrate for export.

But we need to find additional resources to those already known to ensure the sustainability of mining activity over time.

The activity currently being carried out with our partners consists of finding sulphide lenses observed at the surface at depth using the Typhoon, which detects ore bodies, mainly nickel and copper, at depths of up to 2 km", added explained the boss of Sama Nickel Côte d'Ivoire.

Minister Mabri Toikeusse welcomed Sama Nickel's announcement. He wanted local development to be a priority for this company. The company has opened nearly 100 km of road, thus opening up many villages.

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