Niger Gives Gold, Base Metal Licenses to Cassidy, Ami, Gecko

Niger awarded gold and base-metal exploration licenses to Canadian miners Cassidy Gold Corp. (CDX) and Ami Resources Inc. and the local unit of Geodrill-Ghana, the government said.

Cassidy Gold, based in Kamloops, British Columbia, will spend $4 million on exploration at the Boulkagou and Dogona sites in the west of the country, according to an e-mailed statement today. Ami Resources’ unit, Ami Africa Exploration Ltd., will invest another $4 million its two sites, the government said.

Gecko Gold Niger, Geodrill-Ghana’s unit in the West African nation, will also spend $4 million on gold and base metal exploration at the western sites of Kossa I and Kossa II, according to the statement. Under both accords, Niger will be permitted to take an up to 40 percent stake in any project with a 10 percent stake not being paid for, the government said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Djibril Saidou in Niamey via Accra at ebowers1@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Antony Sguazzin at asguazzin@bloomberg.net