Gold output can double

Ivory Coast can double gold output within two years from the current seven tonnes per year as more miners seek to tap its estimated 200,000 tonnes of reserves, an industry association official said on Friday. "We can double production very quickly within the next two years, because there are several companies carrying out exploration, and it is likely that new sites could start production," said Michel Mian, president of the Interprofessional Mining Group (GPMCI) and head of Australia's Newcrest Ivorian operations. Miners including Newcrest, South Africa's Randgold Resources, Cluff Gold and Canada's La Mancha have operations in the West African nation, best known as the world's top cocoa producer. Around 30 other companies are carrying out exploration across the country, Mian said. From / Gulf News