Burkina Faso has opened its first gold refinery as the military-led government seeks to process more of the country’s mineral resources domestically and retain greater economic value from its gold production.
President Ibrahim Traoré inaugurated the Raffinor-BF facility in the capital on Monday. The plant, which cost more than 11 billion CFA francs (about 19 million dollars), was financed mainly by the state through the National Precious Metals Company, with additional private investment.
The refinery has an initial capacity to process 164 tonnes of gold per year. Authorities plan a second phase that would raise annual capacity to 515 tonnes, potentially allowing Burkina Faso to refine gold from neighbouring countries and position itself as a regional hub.
Speaking at the ceremony, Traoré said the country aimed to control the full mineral value chain. “We want to refine all our metals on site… we want to have the entire value chain on site,” he stated.
Mines Minister Yacouba Zabré Gouba described the project as a shift away from exporting unprocessed gold. “Our gold will no longer be used to create added value for others while our people remain in need,” he said.
The facility includes a foundry, analysis laboratory, secure storage and a jewellery unit. It is designed to produce gold of up to 99.9 percent purity and is expected to create more than 100 direct jobs and about 5,000 indirect employment opportunities.
Gold is one of Burkina Faso’s main exports. The government has sought tighter oversight of the sector, including artisanal mining, amid concerns over smuggling and the possible financing of armed groups. Traoré’s administration has promoted greater state involvement in mining since taking power in a 2022 coup, presenting local processing as part of a broader drive for economic self-reliance.
