Wia Gold Limited has signed a binding agreement to divest all its non-core gold exploration permits in Côte d’Ivoire to ASX-listed Santa Fe Minerals, allowing the company to shift its full strategic focus to Namibia’s Kokoseb Gold Project.
Under the agreement, Wia will sell 100% of its Mauritius-based subsidiary, Glomin Services, which indirectly holds its 80% interest in the Dialakoro, Mankono Ouest and Issia permits, along with seven additional permit applications.
In exchange, Wia will receive 20 million fully paid ordinary shares in Santa Fe and 8 million performance rights that convert to shares once 500,000-ounce and 1-million-ounce gold resource milestones are reached.
“We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Santa Fe for the divestment of Wia’s exploration permits in Côte d’Ivoire. This divestment is a strategic step that allows Wia to focus on the rapid exploration and development of the Kokoseb gold project in Namibia while retaining exposure to future upside in Côte d’Ivoire through an ongoing shareholding in Santa Fe,” said Wia Gold’s Executive Chairman, Josef El-Raghy.
Wia stated that the sale will result in a non-cash impairment on its Côte d’Ivoire exploration assets in the December 2025 half-year accounts, but emphasised that its growth path is now centred on Kokoseb.
The Kokoseb deposit, located in north-west Namibia, sits within the Okombahe licence, held as a joint venture between Wia (80%) and state-owned Epangelo Mining.
It forms part of Wia’s broader Damaran Project, covering more than 2,700 km². An updated mineral resource estimate released in July 2025 confirmed 2.93 million ounces of gold at 1.0 g/t, including a higher-grade core of 2.07 million ounces at 1.4 g/t.
Wia said no new information has altered this resource estimate, reiterating Kokoseb’s status as its priority development asset.
The company plans to redirect capital, exploration capacity and technical resources to Namibia as Kokoseb anchors its next phase of growth and value creation.
