Awalé Resources Secures Final Exploration Permits for Côte d’Ivoire Gold-Copper Project

Awalé Resources has secured approval for the final two exploration permits covering its 100%-owned ground at the Odienné Gold-Copper Project in north-western Côte d’Ivoire, consolidating its position across one of the country’s prospective mineral districts.

The permits, PR-1100, known as Tienko, and PR-1101, known as GB, were approved through decrees adopted by Côte d’Ivoire’s Council of Ministers on October 14, 2026. They are awaiting the President’s signature before formal granting.

Once signed, the approvals will bring all five of Awalé’s wholly owned exploration permits at Odienné into effect, covering approximately 1,542 square kilometres across the district.

Awalé President and CEO Andrew Chubb described the development as an important milestone for the company, saying it consolidates its land position along a highly prospective geological trend.

The newly approved permits extend Awalé’s exploration footprint north and west along major regional structures that continue into Mali and Guinea, areas associated with significant gold discoveries.

C$12 million exploration programme underway

The permits will support the company’s fully funded, 15-month exploration programme, announced on September 22, 2026. The C$12 million programme includes approximately 71,500 metres of drilling and more than 15,000 surface geochemical samples.

Funding was secured through recent financing from PDI Gold, with support from Fortuna Mining and Newmont.

Planned exploration work at Tienko and GB will begin with aerial magnetic surveys to improve understanding of geological structures and underlying regolith. Regional geochemical sampling, including termitaria and soil surveys, will then help identify potential mineralisation across the properties.

The programme will progress to staged infill sampling and auger drilling, followed by aircore, reverse circulation and diamond drilling to test priority targets.

A further 15,000 metres of drilling has been reserved for follow-up work on new discoveries across Awalé’s wholly owned ground, comprising 10,000 metres of diamond drilling and 5,000 metres of reverse circulation drilling.

Fieldwork on the two newly approved permits is expected to begin once the signed decrees are received, with planning, contractors and budgets already in place.

Expanding exploration potential at Odienné

The latest approvals strengthen Awalé’s position in the Odienné district, which the company considers significantly underexplored.

The expanded landholding and planned exploration programme are intended to help identify additional gold and copper targets while building on the company’s previous discoveries in the region.

Formal granting of the final permits will allow Awalé to move ahead with exploration across its consolidated land position, as it seeks to advance the project’s mineral potential.