Burkina Faso has commissioned its first-ever gold refinery as the West African country moves to increase local processing and strengthen control over its gold industry.
The refinery was inaugurated on Monday in the capital, Ouagadougou, by military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Burkina Faso is one of Africa’s major gold producers, producing more than 94 tonnes of the precious metal in the previous year, according to the World Gold Council.
However, the country has struggled to regulate its informal gold-mining sector, which has faced challenges including smuggling and attacks by jihadist groups.
The government said the refinery represents a major step towards greater economic independence and reducing the export of unprocessed raw materials.
Traoré, who came to power following a military coup in 2022, said the country wanted to process its mineral resources domestically and develop the entire value chain within Burkina Faso.
His administration has also nationalised several gold mines while promoting local industrial production in sectors including cotton, agriculture and textiles.
Burkina Faso suspended gold exports from informal mining operations in 2024 as part of efforts to bring greater organisation and oversight to the sector.
Authorities have also raised concerns about illegal gold exports, with the government linking the illicit trade to the financing of insecurity in the country.
Burkina Faso continues to face attacks from jihadist groups, despite the mobilisation of civilian volunteers to support the military in the fight against insurgency.
The newly inaugurated National Gold Refinery of Burkina Faso, known as RAFFINOR-BF, has an initial annual processing capacity of 164 tonnes of gold. The government said the facility could eventually expand its capacity to as much as 515 tonnes annually.
Construction of the refinery began in 2023, with the project reportedly costing about 11 billion CFA francs, equivalent to approximately $19 million.
The facility was financed by the Burkinabe government in partnership with private investors in the country.
