Côte d’Ivoire-based Corica Mining Services has been appointed as the mining contractor for the Kobada gold project in Mali, strengthening its growing presence in West Africa’s mining industry.
Australian mining company Toubani Resources announced on Wednesday that Corica had been selected following a competitive tender process to provide mining services for the planned gold mine.
The agreement has an initial five-year term, although it remains subject to the finalisation of outstanding contractual terms between the two companies.
Under the contract, Corica will undertake a range of mining activities from the pre-production phase through to full-scale operations, including drilling, blasting, loading and ore haulage.
Construction of the Kobada mine is scheduled to begin later this year, with first gold production targeted for 2027.
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Corica is expected to play a key role in developing the mine, which Toubani estimates will produce an average of 162,000 ounces of gold annually over a projected mine life of 9.2 years. The project is expected to require an investment of approximately US$216 million.
Toubani Chief Executive Phil Russo said the appointment marked another important milestone as the Kobada project advanced towards production.
He said partnering with an experienced regional mining contractor would strengthen the project’s development and support the establishment of a long-term working relationship.
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Corica has expanded its footprint across Mali in recent years and is already involved in several major mining projects.
The company currently provides mining services at the Syama gold mine operated by Resolute Mining and the Sadiola gold mine operated by Allied Gold.
Since 2022, it has also worked on the Goulamina lithium project under a contract valued at $348 million, further strengthening its position in the region’s rapidly growing mining sector.
The Kobada contract highlights the increasing role of African mining contractors in West Africa, a market that has traditionally been dominated by international firms.
Regional companies are increasingly securing large-scale contracts and expanding their capabilities beyond contract mining services. In Ghana, for example, firms such as Engineers & Planners have grown from providing mining services into mine ownership and operations.
The final execution of the Corica-Toubani agreement is expected after the remaining contractual terms are concluded, following Toubani’s final investment decision on the Kobada project in March.
