Underground mining at Endeavour Mining’s Mana gold operation in Burkina Faso has been suspended after a section of an access road subsided, disrupting access to two underground mining areas and adding further pressure to an operation already facing production challenges.
Endeavour Mining has temporarily halted underground mining activities at its Mana gold mine in Burkina Faso following a ground subsidence incident on 28 October 2026.
The incident affected an access road running through the depleted Wona open pit, restricting access to the Dangouna and Aviera underground entrances. According to the company, workers were evacuated from the affected areas, with no injuries reported. Local authorities were also notified.
Mining activities have been suspended at all three active underground entrances while specialists assess ground stability and determine the necessary rehabilitation measures. The company has not yet confirmed the cause of the subsidence or provided a timeline for the resumption of underground operations.
Despite the disruption, Endeavour Mining maintains that it remains on track to achieve its 2026 group production and all-in sustaining cost targets, even if no further mining takes place at Mana during the fourth quarter.
The company had previously forecast annual gold production of between 1.09 million and 1.27 million ounces.
Alternative mining options under consideration
Endeavour is evaluating several measures to reduce the operational impact of the incident. One option involves restarting and accelerating mining activities through the Wona underground entrance, which remains accessible.
The company is also considering the possibility of supplementing processing plant feed from nearby open-pit operations, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.
According to National Bank Financial mining analyst Mohamed Sidibé, the overall impact will largely depend on the time required to rehabilitate the affected underground entrances and whether alternative ore sources can maintain processing throughput. The remediation process could take between one and two quarters.
Endeavour is expected to provide further details on its ground stability assessment and proposed repair programme when it releases its third-quarter results on 12 November 2026.
Previous ground stability concerns
The latest incident follows an earlier ground stability issue reported at the Mana operation in July.
At the time, mining activities at the Aviera underground section were temporarily suspended after a surface fracture was identified in the depleted Wona open pit above the deposit. The company initiated monitoring activities and indicated that the fracture had not affected active ore zones.
Although mining was expected to resume around the middle of the third quarter, subject to monitoring, it remains unclear whether the earlier fracture is connected to the latest subsidence.
The repeated ground stability concerns add another layer of complexity to the operation’s recovery efforts.
Production challenges add to operational pressure
Mana was already experiencing production difficulties before the latest disruption. In July, Endeavour revised its expectations for the operation, warning that annual gold production would fall below the lower end of its original guidance of 155,000 to 180,000 ounces. Sustaining costs were also expected to exceed previous estimates.
The shortfall was partly attributed to the earlier-than-anticipated depletion of the higher-grade Siou underground deposit, following unsuccessful drilling efforts to extend its mineral resources. Delays affecting mining activities at the Bana Camp open pit also contributed to the weaker performance.
During the first half of 2026, Mana produced approximately 68,000 ounces of gold, compared with 87,000 ounces during the corresponding period in 2025, representing a decline of around 22%.
The operation accounted for approximately 12% of Endeavour Mining’s first-half group production.
Mana’s importance to Endeavour’s West African portfolio
Located approximately 60 kilometres north of Houndé, the Mana mine is one of Endeavour Mining’s two producing gold operations in Burkina Faso. The company also operates gold mines in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.
Endeavour holds an 85% interest in Mana, with the remaining 15% owned by the Burkina Faso government.
The mine’s processing plant commenced operations in 2008, while the operation transitioned to fully underground production in 2024. Mana produced approximately 173,000 ounces of gold in 2025.
Looking ahead, Endeavour’s longer-term strategy for the operation includes extending its mine life beyond ten years through the development of additional underground deposits and the evaluation of nearby open-pit opportunities.
Restoring safe and reliable access to the underground workings will therefore be an important priority as the company works to stabilise production and advance its longer-term plans for the asset.
