Cora Gold has secured the first interim renewal of the Sanankoro II exploration permit in Mali, moving its flagship Sanankoro gold project a step closer to the next stage of permitting. The renewal was approved at a Mali government Council of Ministers meeting on 21 August 2026. Sanankoro II covers 84.11 square kilometres and was originally granted on 2 March 2021.
Cora plans to reshape its existing permit areas so that the infrastructure required for the proposed mine can be included within a single mining permit. Renewing Sanankoro II allows that process to move forward.
The company still needs renewals for the Bokoro II and Kodiou exploration permits. These were not completed before a permitting moratorium took effect in November 2022. Once those renewals are in place, Cora expects to complete the restructuring of the licence areas and progress its application for a proposed 100 square kilometre mining permit at Sanankoro.
The mining permit is central to the project’s development because it would cover both the mineralised areas and the infrastructure needed to build and operate the mine.
Front-end engineering design work announced in May is continuing, while drilling is targeting extensions to known deposits and nearby exploration prospects. The engineering work should give Cora a clearer basis for construction planning, while drilling could improve its understanding of the resource base around the proposed mine.
The FEED programme also allows the company to identify long-lead equipment and other requirements before a construction decision is made.
Cora Gold Ltd (LON:CORA), together with its subsidiaries, explores for and develops mineral projects in West Africa. The company primarily explores for gold deposits. Its flagship project is the Sanankoro Gold project located in the Yanfolila Gold Belt, Southern Mali.
