Ariana Resources eyes 2028 gold production at rare Zimbabwe mine

Ariana Resources, a mineral exploration and development company, is targeting first gold production from its flagship Dokwe project in Zimbabwe by 2028, marking what could become the country’s first major greenfield gold mine developed in decades.

Managing Director Dr. Kerim Sener said the company is progressing the project toward production, positioning Dokwe as one of Africa’s most significant undeveloped gold assets. “With a fair wind, I’d like to think that we’re pouring our first gold in 2028,” Sener said, highlighting the company’s confidence in the project’s development timeline.

Located about 110 kilometers (68 miles) northwest of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, the Dokwe project stands apart from many recent mining investments that have focused on extending the life of existing operations rather than developing entirely new deposits.

Largest undeveloped gold deposit attracts Ariana

Rather than pursuing established brownfield assets, Ariana Resources opted to invest in what it describes as Zimbabwe’s largest undeveloped gold deposit. “Dokwe represented an opportunity to tackle what is the largest undeveloped gold deposit in Zimbabwe at the present time,” Sener said.

The company also cited the deposit’s favorable metallurgy as a major advantage. According to Sener, much of the gold can be recovered through gravity processing, a relatively straightforward and cost-effective extraction method that could improve operational efficiency and lower processing costs.

A pre-feasibility study estimates Dokwe contains 1.13 million ounces of gold reserves, supporting an open-pit mining operation expected to produce as much as 100,000 ounces annually at peak production over an estimated 20-year mine life.

Zimbabwe seeks fresh mining investment

Zimbabwe has a rich history of gold production but has struggled to attract large-scale international mining investment since major companies including Rio Tinto, Delta Gold, and Kinross exited the country during the political and economic turmoil of the early 2000s.

The sector has since been sustained by mid-tier mining companies and thousands of small-scale operators, helping national gold production recover from just 3 metric tons in 2008 to 46.7 metric tons in 2025 through the expansion and revival of existing mines.

A successful Dokwe development could signal renewed investor confidence in Zimbabwe’s mining sector and strengthen the country’s position as one of Africa’s leading gold producers.

Ariana Resources is an AIM- and ASX-listed mineral exploration and development company led by Dr. Kerim Sener. Headquartered in London, the company focuses on gold, copper, silver and technology metals across Zimbabwe, Türkiye, Cyprus and Kosovo.