Burkina Faso has inaugurated its first gold refinery as the military government moves to increase state control over the country’s mineral resources and reduce dependence on overseas processing.
The facility, known as Raffinor-BF, was officially opened in the capital, Ouagadougou, on Monday by Junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Speaking at the ceremony, Capt Traoré said the government wanted to ensure that the country’s minerals were processed locally rather than exported in their raw form.
The refinery was constructed at a cost of more than 11 billion CFA francs ($19 million; £14 million), according to the presidency.
It was funded by the state through the National Precious Metals Company (Sonasp), together with private-sector partners.
Raffinor-BF will initially process up to 164 tonnes of gold annually, while authorities say its capacity could eventually increase to 515 tonnes.
Burkina Faso is among Africa’s major gold-producing nations, with production increasing by 17% year-on-year during the second quarter of 2026, according to the World Gold Council.
However, the country continues to face challenges in monitoring artisanal and small-scale mining.
Illegal trading and smuggling have made it difficult for authorities to determine the full volume of gold extracted.
The government has also claimed that proceeds from illegally traded gold have contributed to financing Islamist armed groups operating in the country.
Burkina Faso has battled militants affiliated with al-Qaeda and Islamic State for several years, with insurgency affecting large parts of the country.
Under Capt Traoré, who seized power in a September 2022 coup, the authorities have pursued policies aimed at strengthening national ownership of strategic industries.
Foreign mining companies are now required to provide the state with a 15% interest in their projects and train Burkinabè workers.
The government also established a state-owned mining company two years ago and suspended exports of gold from artisanal and semi-mechanised operations in 2024 as part of efforts to improve oversight.
Mines Minister Yacouba Zabré Gouba described the refinery as a major step towards ensuring that the country’s mineral wealth creates greater economic benefits for its population.
The government hopes the project will eventually enable Burkina Faso to handle gold from both large-scale operations and informal producers, while positioning the landlocked nation as a regional refining centre.
The initiative forms part of a wider drive to expand domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign businesses.
Authorities have similarly promoted local processing in areas such as cotton, textiles and food production.
Other West African countries are pursuing comparable measures.
Ghana and Guinea have introduced restrictions on exports of unrefined gold, while Mali is developing its first refinery with assistance from a Russian company.
Ivory Coast is also preparing to launch a refinery next year.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong