THE chief executive of the Jersey-based gold-mining group Randgold Resources, Mark Bristow, says that its new mine at Tongon in the Côte d’Ivoire is an example of his organisation’s ‘philosophy of partnering host countries’.

The mine, which should produce an average of 270,000 ounces of gold a year and is estimated to have reserves of 90 tonnes, was developed during the Côte d’Ivoire’s recent civil war and was opened in 2010 during post-election disturbances.

But Mr Bristow says that the 400 million US dollars invested in the project has bought success for Randgold and communities around the mine.

He said: ‘When we invest in a new mine, we are also investing in the country where it is located and in that country’s people.’