The Burkina Faso gold refinery has opened in Ouagadougou as the military-led government seeks to process more of the country’s mineral wealth domestically and increase state control over its gold industry. The RAFFINOR-BF facility was inaugurated on Monday by junta leader Ibrahim Traoré.
The new refinery is intended to reduce Burkina Faso’s reliance on exporting unrefined gold for processing abroad. Traoré said the government wants the country to handle more of the mineral value chain within its borders.
“We want to refine all our metals on site… we want to have the entire value chain on site,” Traoré said at the inauguration. The project is part of his government’s broader push for greater domestic processing of natural resources.
Burkina Faso Gold Refinery Targets Local Gold Processing
RAFFINOR-BF cost more than 11bn CFA francs ($19m; £14m), according to the presidency. The project was financed by the state, including through the National Precious Metals Company, known as Sonasp, in partnership with Burkina Faso’s private sector.
The Burkina Faso gold refinery will initially have the capacity to refine 164 tonnes of gold annually. Authorities say that figure could eventually increase to 515 tonnes, a level that would allow the facility to process gold from beyond Burkina Faso’s current production.
The government has said it wants the plant to handle gold from both industrial and artisanal mining operations. It also hopes the facility can help transform Burkina Faso into a regional centre for gold refining.
Mines Minister Yacouba Zabré Gouba described the opening as an important step towards greater control of the country’s mineral resources.
“This is the day we take back the keys to our own house,” Gouba said. “Our gold will no longer be used to create added value for others while our people remain in need.”
Ibrahim Traoré Expands Control Over Gold Industry
Burkina Faso is one of Africa’s major gold producers, but the authorities have faced difficulties regulating the extensive artisanal and small-scale mining sector. Informal trading and smuggling have made it difficult for the government to account for all the gold produced in the country.
The government has also alleged that illegally traded gold helps finance the Islamist insurgency affecting large parts of Burkina Faso. Armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State have operated in the country for years, leaving some areas outside full government control.
Gold production has increased, with the World Gold Council reporting a 17% year-on-year rise in output in the second quarter of 2026. As production has grown, the government has sought to strengthen its involvement in the mining industry.
Burkina Faso Gold Refinery Part of Wider Mining Reforms
Two years ago, Traoré’s government established a state-owned mining company as part of its efforts to increase state involvement in the sector. Foreign mining companies are now required to give the state a 15% stake in their operations and train local workers.
The authorities also suspended exports of gold produced by artisanal and semi-mechanised mines in 2024, saying the measure was intended to improve regulation of the sector. Traoré has previously accused smugglers of illegally moving significant quantities of gold out of the country and said some proceeds were being used to support militant groups.
The Burkina Faso gold refinery is the latest part of a wider economic strategy promoted since Traoré came to power in a coup in September 2022. His government has emphasised domestic production and greater state control of strategic industries while seeking to reduce dependence on foreign companies and former Western partners.
The approach also includes efforts to increase domestic processing in sectors such as cotton, textiles and food. The government has presented these initiatives as steps towards greater economic self-reliance.
Burkina Faso’s plans come as other West African countries also seek to retain more value from their gold resources. Guinea and Ghana have restricted exports of unrefined gold, while Mali is building its first refinery with help from a Russian firm. Ivory Coast also plans to open a refinery next year.