In 2025, Eramet produced 983,000 tonnes of high-mineral sands concentrate (HMC) at its mine in Senegal. This is a level the site is far from being able to reach in 2026, following the fire in February that severely disrupted its operations.

In Senegal, the French group Eramet aims for an annual production of around 900,000 tonnes of high mineral sands concentrate (HMC) at its Grande Côte mine in 2027. This objective, announced on Monday, November 9, is based on a return to full capacity of the site, whose operations have been disrupted since the fire that occurred at its facilities last February.

Eramet's production of mineral sands at Grande Côte includes ilmenite, rutile, and zircon, raw materials used in construction and various industries. In 2025, the mine produced 983,000 tonnes and, at the beginning of the year, was still projecting nearly 900,000 tonnes in 2026. However, these prospects have been jeopardized by the fire and damage to the wet concentration unit (WCP), a facility that plays a role in the mining process by separating heavy minerals from the extracted sand.

Initially suspended after the disaster, operations gradually resumed from April onwards, alongside the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. The mine, however, is still operating at a reduced capacity. For the whole of 2026, Eramet is now forecasting production of between 300,000 and 400,000 tonnes, of which 264,000 tonnes have already been produced between January and the end of September. In this context, the objective of returning to stable production by the first quarter of 2027, and then to around 900,000 tonnes for the year, reflects the group's ambition to accelerate the recovery of its business, as the economic consequences of the incident are already being felt.

Eramet had notably declared a case of force majeure, which remains in effect, for its contracts with the mine's customers and suppliers. In the first nine months of 2026, revenue from the business thus amounted to €78 million (US$87.3 million), down 58% compared to the €186 million recorded in the same period in 2025. At the same time, the group estimates the net impact of the incident on its cash flow in 2026 at €45 million, after taking into account reconstruction costs, operating losses, and insurance compensation.

The progress of the work on the site will therefore be crucial in assessing the timeline and scope of the planned resumption. However, the stakes extend beyond Eramet's performance alone, as Grande Côte is also a major contributor to the Senegalese mining industry. The company had declared a contribution of €229.7 million to the local economy in 2025, broken down into purchases from suppliers, employee salaries, and taxes paid to the government.