Togo expects to collect around US$17.2 million in mining royalties in 2026, according to government revenue projections, pointing to a modest but steady rise in the mining sector’s contribution to public finances over the coming years.
The forecast, published as part of revenue projections for the 2026–2028 period, estimates mining royalties at 10.38 billion CFA francs in 2026. Collections are expected to increase to 12.48 billion CFA francs (US$20.7 million) in 2027 and 13.62 billion CFA francs (around US$22.6 million) in 2028.
Taken together, mining royalty revenue is projected to grow by nearly 31 percent over the three-year period. The increase reflects expectations of gradual expansion in mining activity, as well as efforts by the authorities to improve revenue collection from the sector.
Despite the upward trend, mining royalties remain relatively small in absolute terms and are still expected to fall below levels recorded in previous years. Available government data show that total mining revenue reached about 19.84 billion CFA francs, or roughly US$32.9 million, in 2021.
More broadly, the mining sector continues to make only a limited contribution to the state budget. Mining royalties projected for 2026 represent just a fraction of total budget revenue, which the government expects to exceed 1,600 billion CFA francs, equivalent to about US$2.65 billion, that year.
More Read
This contrast highlights the modest fiscal weight of mining in Togo’s economy, despite the country’s long history of mineral extraction.
Phosphates still dominate
Togo’s mining industry remains heavily dominated by phosphate, which has been extracted for decades and remains the country’s main mineral export. Phosphate production exceeded 1.5 million tonnes in 2022, according to official data, and the sector plays a key role in export earnings.
However, analysts note that the value captured by the state has historically been constrained by fluctuating international prices, aging infrastructure and limited downstream processing. As a result, phosphate mining has not translated into a major and stable source of fiscal revenue.
More Read
Beyond phosphates, Togo also has deposits of limestone and clinker used in the cement industry. These materials support domestic construction and regional exports but generate relatively modest royalty flows compared with large-scale metallic mining operations seen elsewhere in West Africa.
The country is also known to have gold and diamond resources, though these are not yet produced on a commercial scale. Small-scale and artisanal activity exists, but it has so far had little measurable impact on public revenues.
New projects raise expectations
Alongside existing production, Togolese authorities are increasingly banking on new mining projects to support future growth in the sector. Chief among them is the Nayega manganese project, located in the northern part of the country.
At full capacity, the Nayega mine is expected to produce several hundred thousand tonnes of manganese per year, potentially making it one of the most significant additions to Togo’s mining portfolio. Manganese is a strategic mineral, widely used in steelmaking and increasingly important for battery technologies.
If successfully developed, the project could help diversify Togo’s mineral output and strengthen mining’s contribution to exports, employment and fiscal revenue. However, analysts caution that timelines, financing conditions and global market dynamics will play a decisive role in determining its impact.
A limited but growing role
While mining royalties are expected to rise gradually through 2028, the sector is unlikely to become a major pillar of public finances in the near term. The projected figures underline both the potential and the limitations of mining in Togo’s economic structure.
For the government, the challenge will be to translate incremental growth in mining activity into more meaningful and sustainable fiscal gains, while ensuring environmental safeguards and stronger governance in the sector.
In the meantime, mining is set to remain a secondary, though slowly expanding, source of revenue for the Togolese state as it pursues broader efforts to diversify its economy and strengthen domestic resource mobilization.
