Phosphates are the country’s main mining resource.
The ICS are the main operators of the Taïba and Thies phosphates; ICS thus absorbs the major part of the production, which is estimated at 2 million t per year, 15% of Senegalese exports.
The subsoil has a potential of 12 million t of lime and 100 million t of alumina phosphates.
The Matam phosphates: a deposit of more than 40 million tonnes (28% of P205),which has not been exploited yet and is located 700 km from Dakar, alongside the Senegal River, in an area connected to the port of Dakar by a national asphalt road.

ron deposits are mainly located in the far south-west of Senegal and their exploitation is carried out by MIFERSO (Eastern Senegal iron mines).

Reserves are estimated at 350 million tonnes, with an iron rate of 63%. Besides these reserves, Senegal’s subsoil could possibly hold 350 million tonnes of magnetic ore, according to surveys carried out by MIFERSO.

To allow for an optimal exploitation of the potential iron ore, the President of the Republic has decided to implement an ambitious programme articulated around 3 components, which is to be financed by the private sector, on the BOT mode (Build Operate Transfer) :

• Development of the mining sector

This 293 million USD investment project includes the building of mining infrastructures, a power house of 150 MW, modern facilities for iron ore reduction. The production is estimated at 12 million tonnes for the first two years of exploitation;
• Railways

This 426 million USD project includes the building of 311 km railway between the mine and the existing railway, as well as a 6 km scissors crossing between Diamniadio and the future mineral port of Bargny.
• The mineral Port of Bargny

This port costing 162 million USD, which is located 28 km from Dakar is designed for the heavy existing (Thies or Taïba phosphates) or anticipated mineral traffic (Matam phosphates, sulphur, iron and gold ore and gold in Eastern Senegal). A satisfying bathymetry would allow for a hosting of ships drawing 170,000 tdw.

Senegal has significant marble reserves (6 varieties) and ornamental stones estimated at 1.07 million tonnes.
These reserves are mainly located in the south-east and have not yet been exploited. The Dialokoto-Kédougou asphalting should help re-develop the exploitation of marble.

This sector is characterized by a strong presence of foreign mining companies in the east of the country, at the border with Mali (including AGEM, BRGM, ANMERCOSA, RANGOLD ASHANTI, GOLDFIELDS, SAMAX HANSA...).
The SABADOLA factory, which is planned to be taken over after an international call for tenders, has a daily production capacity of 600 t.

There is a potential deposit of 3 billion m3 in Diamniadio, an area situated 60 km from Dakar.

Major offshore oilfields have been discovered at the border between Senegal and Guinea Bissau.

Senegal has large reserves of limestone (956,390 m3 in 2001), which fuel the growing cement industry.

Senegal has two cement works:

• SOCOCIM (West African cement-producing company)
• CIMENTERIES DU SAHEL.

The cement production reached 1,539,300 tonnes in 2001, compared to the 1,340,500 tonnes produced in 2000, which is an increase of 14.8%.
Sales amounted to 1,531,000 tonnes (90% of the production is for the local market).
The launching of the CIMENTERIES DU SAHEL’s production should help fill the deficit in the cement offer. Their production capacities are estimated at 600,000t.

The official selling price of a ton of cement has not changed since August 1998, remaining at CFA F49,200 (EUROS75).