KEY POINTS
- Senegal has confirmed that Fortuna’s Diamba Sud exploitation permit application meets regulatory requirements.
- Engineering, equipment procurement and accommodation camp construction preparations are progressing.
- Fortuna targets annual gold production of 500,000 ounces from mid-2028, supported by growth projects at Diamba Sud and Séguéla.
Canadian gold producer Fortuna Mining has secured a key regulatory milestone for its Diamba Sud gold project in Senegal after the country’s Ministry of Mines and Geology declared its exploitation permit application admissible.
The company received the notice on November 2, 2026, confirming that the ministry had completed its review of the application documents and found them compliant with regulatory requirements.
The development marks an important step towards securing the final exploitation permit needed to move the project into full-scale mine construction.
Fortuna began the permitting process in February 2026 and expects the Senegalese government to complete its internal approval process in the fourth quarter of this year.
However, construction of the mine remains conditional on the granting of the final permit. The company also plans to make a formal final investment decision on Diamba Sud once the permit is secured.
Engineering and procurement work progresses
Fortuna has continued preparatory work to keep the project on schedule while awaiting regulatory approval.
The company appointed SENET, an African project management and engineering firm, as the engineering, procurement and construction management contractor. Front-end engineering design has also been completed, while detailed engineering for the processing plant is approximately 15% complete.
Fortuna has placed purchase orders for several critical items of equipment with long manufacturing and delivery lead times. These include a semi-autogenous grinding mill, a primary crusher and plate work for carbon-in-leach tanks, which are used in gold extraction.
The company has also awarded key construction packages as it prepares for the next phase of project development.
Meanwhile, manufacturing of heavy and light fuel oil generators for the project’s power station is under way. The light fuel oil units have completed factory acceptance testing and have been shipped.
These activities are intended to reduce delays once the final permit is granted and full-scale construction can begin.
Work on the project’s accommodation camp is also progressing, alongside preparations for major infrastructure.
Fortuna reported that earthworks at the camp were 80% complete, while civil works had reached 40% completion. Installation of underground services was also nearing completion.
The company is undertaking land compensation and clearing activities for the main infrastructure areas, forming part of its preparations for construction.
