Stellar AfricaGold Strikes Strategic JV in Côte d’Ivoire’s Surging Gold Frontier for its Zuénoula Gold Project

 2 minute read - Published 11:00 AM EST,  Monday, December 22, 2025

This article was authored by witan nook. for Stellar AfricaGold

As West Africa’s gold rush intensifies, Stellar AfricaGold has inked a pivotal earn-in and joint venture (JV) deal that could unlock the untapped potential of its Zuénoula Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire. The agreement, announced on December 9 of 2025, pairs the Vancouver-based junior explorer with Australia’s MetalsGrove Mining, injecting up to US$3 million in funded exploration into a 395.8-square-kilometer permit ripe with shear-hosted mineralization. For Stellar, it’s a calculated de-risking move in a jurisdiction where gold output is barreling toward record highs amid aggressive government reforms.

Location Map of the Zenoula Project  | Stellar AfricaGold

Under the JV terms, MetalsGrove’s subsidiary, MetalsGrove CDI Pty Ltd., commits to a tiered earn-in: US$150,000 in exploration spending by April 2026 to secure initial optionality, followed by US$1 million more by July 2027 and another US$2 million by April 2029 to vest a 50% stake. An upfront US$50,000 cash payment seals exclusivity, with a further US$1 million milestone tied to delineating a JORC-compliant resource exceeding 1 million ounces, including at least 500,000 ounces indicated. Post-earn-in, Stellar can opt to co-fund on equal terms or watch MetalsGrove sole-fund an additional US$3 million for an 80% majority. Dilution clauses apply for non-contributors, bottoming out at a 1%  net smelter return (NSR) royalty.

“This partnership with MetalsGrove is a smart lever for advancing Zuénoula without straining our resources at the flagship Tichka Est project in Morocco,” said J-François Lalonde, Stellar’s CEO. “The US$3 million in committed funding de-risks an early-stage asset while keeping Stellar’s upside intact in Côte d’Ivoire’s high-potential landscape.”

Stellar AfricaGold’s initial exploration at the Zenoula Project  | Stellar AfricaGold

The deal arrives at a propitious moment for Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa exporter now pivoting to metals as an economic diversifier. Once overshadowed by neighbour's like Ghana and Mali, the nation’s gold sector has exploded from a modest 10 metric tonnes annually in 2012 to 58 tonnes in 2024, with forecasts pegging 62 tonnes for 2025 - fuelled by the January 2023 startup of Tietto Minerals’ Abujar mine, which alone targets 170,000 ounces annually.

For juniors like Stellar, Zuénoula embodies the jurisdiction’s allure: under-explored shear zones akin to those birthing Abujar’s 3.83 million-ounce resource. With MetalsGrove’s drill-ready capital, the project could fast-track to resource definition, potentially mirroring the Abujar feasibility’s stellar economics - internal rates exceeding 95 percent at current gold prices. Challenges persist - permitting delays and community consultations demand finesse - but Côte d’Ivoire’s trajectory suggests Zuénoula is no outlier.

As 2025 closes, Stellar’s JV underscores a broader narrative: West Africa’s gold belt is reshaping, with Ivory Coast as its polished gem. For explorers willing to navigate the terrain, the shear zones - and rewards - await.

This article was authored by witan nook. and paid for by Stellar AfricaGold in Canadian dollars