Ministry of Mines and Geology: The department's priorities for the 2027 Budget

On Wednesday, Cheikhou Oumar Seck, Minister of Mines and Geology, appeared before the Finance and Budget Control Committee, which was expanded to include the Energy and Mineral Resources Committee. He defended his department's 2027 budget proposal, set at 7.4 billion CFA francs. This proposal was ultimately rejected by the committee.

Before the members of parliament, the minister outlined the strategies adopted by his department to make mineral resources a genuine driver of development for the benefit of the population. The objectives include strengthening the safety of mining operations, creating economic opportunities, facilitating the availability of materials needed for construction sites, protecting the environment, and enabling local communities to benefit more from the sector's economic impact.

41.6% of the draft budget allocated to investment

The department intends to prioritize the "development of mineral resources," which will mobilize 5.8 billion FCFA, representing 77.88% of the budget. The program for steering, coordination, and administrative management accounts for 1.6 billion FCFA, or 22.12% of the funds. The minister also specified that 3.1 billion FCFA, corresponding to 41.6% of the draft budget, will be allocated to investments carried out by the State.

The minister also presented the progress made in 2026. For example, 31,020 artisanal gold miners were registered using biometrics in the Kédougou and Tambacounda regions. Furthermore, seven pilot corridors are being developed by the military engineering corps at a cost of 488.3 million CFA francs. These initiatives aim to better identify stakeholders and provide greater oversight of artisanal gold mining activities.

Gold panning: a human and safety priority

For 2027, the ministry intends to continue its efforts to organize and secure artisanal gold mining. According to the department, the biometric identification of the 31,020 gold miners is a first step toward better understanding the stakeholders and strengthening the traceability of their activities. This is complemented by the development of seven pilot corridors, currently being managed by the Military Engineering Corps, at a cost of 488.3 million FCFA.

Facilitating access to opportunities in the mining sector

The department also aims to make the sector's economic opportunities more accessible to businesses. To this end, it is focusing in particular on the e-CNSCL Mines platform, which lists 901 active companies and has facilitated the publication of 315 calls for tenders. Of the contracts subject to prior review, 247 have been approved and published, while 68 have been returned for non-compliance.

Construction materials and the valorization of local resources

The search for materials useful to the construction sector is also among the ministry's areas of focus. In the Louga region, the construction materials research project reached a physical completion rate of 75% in the first half of 2026.

Gold and precious metals: retaining more value in Senegal

Regarding gold and precious metals, the Ministry of Mines and Geology aims to strengthen local resource processing. In collaboration with Somisen and partners, it plans, in particular, the establishment and operationalization of a national gold trading center, as well as the upgrading and certification of the Diamniadio refinery.

Through these initiatives, the department aims to better organize gold marketing and develop national processing capacities. The goal is to ensure that a larger share of the added value generated from gold resource exploitation is created and retained in Senegal.

Rehabilitation of mining sites and benefits for local communities

Finally, environmental issues are also among the department's priorities. The ministry intends, in particular, to focus on the rehabilitation of mining sites and the protection of the living environment.

It also aims to strengthen the benefits of mining activity for local communities, so that the municipalities concerned benefit more from the wealth extracted from their subsoil.