Côte d’Ivoire aims to quadruple its manganese production to one-million tons of ore a year, boosted by new investments from the China National Geological & Mining Corporation (CGM), in partnership with Côte d’Ivoire State mining company Sodemi. CGM has invested $12.44-million in the reopened Lauzoua mine, from which it is targeting 300 000 t of manganese ore a year. A second project at Ziemougoula in the north-west has more than six-million tons of proven and probable reserves. Chinese steel mills are expected to be the primary destination of the manganese, a key ingredient of steel, of which China is by far the world’s biggest consumer.