It all started with the discovery of an old map
Born amid West Africa’s modern gold rush, our journey began with a pledge to mine responsibly and restore the Tinkisso.
Gold Mining whilst Improving the Tinkisso River System
Guinea is the Water Tower of West Africa. Its seasonal rain waters feed among others the Tinkisso river, a tributary to one of the most important waterways in the world, the mighty Niger.
More than this, the Tinkisso is a source of wealth for Guinean communities, serving as a transport route, fishing grounds, irrigation and recreation areas.
The annual rain season has eroded gold from the mountains, creating gold placer deposits. In other areas, the river has carved out and uncovered deposits.
These gold placer deposits have been exploited by various dredging companies since 1905, including clandestine operators. These operators have destroyed the natural flow of the Tinkisso river system, causing recurring floods, destruction of river banks and a reduction of available fishing grounds.
At WAD, we have proven that restoring the natural flow of the Tinkisso river goes hand-in-hand with the recovery of precious metals such as gold. We achieve this by depositing the reject from our gravimetrical gold recovery process more than 300m from the Tinkisso river banks. To achieve this, our dredger and reject pump system take sediment from the river, pass it over sluice boxes and other mechanized recovery systems, after which is is pumped away at least 300m from the river banks.
Our operation
West African Dredging (WAD SA) is a Guinean-led mining company that unites international engineering expertise with deep local knowledge to deliver measurable social, economic, and environmental value.
Guided by Director General Sékou Oumar Gadjigo and a team of seasoned professionals, mining engineers, and community specialists, we have invested in modern dredgers, on-site recovery plants, and camp facilities while equipping a talented Guinean workforce through rigorous training.
Our commitment to eco-efficient technologies, transparent governance, and community partnerships reflects our conviction that responsible gold mining can drive regional prosperity and ecological stewardship in equal measure.
We are profoundly grateful to the Government of Guinea for its consistent encouragement and the spirit of collaboration shown by regional and local authorities; their support energises our mission and sharpens our resolve. With infrastructure in place, teams mobilised, and shared objectives clearly defined, WAD SA stands ready to embark on the next chapter—working side by side with the government to unlock Guinea’s gold resources for the lasting benefit of its people and ecosystems.
