Senegal: State Reinforces Environmental Compliance for Kédougou Gold Project

The Senegalese State is intensifying its environmental compliance and community participation requirements for the Tomboronkoto gold project in the Kédougou region, as the Mako mine expansion enters a decisive phase, with the Tomboronkoto project itself anticipated for 2028. This significant development, unfolding approximately 705 kilometres from Dakar, involves an ambitious gold project operated in a joint venture by Ardimines Sarl and Toro Gold Limited, a subsidiary of Resolute Mining, designed as a satellite mine to extend the operational life of the Mako gold project owned by Petowal Mining Company (Pmc). The project, which entails the creation of an open-pit mine exceeding 20 hectares, extensive waste rock dumps, and the realignment of National Road 7, is currently under high surveillance by the Direction de la réglementation environnementale et du contrôle, highlighting the complex interplay between economic imperatives, biodiversity safeguarding, particularly for the Gambia River, and the urgent need for peaceful social dialogue within the affected community of Tomboronkoto village.

This heightened scrutiny by the Senegalese State carries substantial legal significance for practitioners and businesses operating in the extractive sector across Senegal and potentially the wider West African region. It signals a clear governmental commitment to reinforcing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, moving beyond mere compliance to proactive engagement and mitigation. The emphasis on