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Burkina Faso Opens First Gold Refinery With 164-Tonne Annual Capacity



Burkina Faso has inaugurated its first national gold refinery, Raffinor-BF, in a major move aimed at increasing local processing, strengthening control over the gold sector and retaining more value from the country’s mineral resources.


The refinery was officially inaugurated in Ouagadougou on Monday, September 28, 2026, by Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.


The facility has an initial theoretical refining capacity of 164 tonnes of gold annually, while a second phase is expected to increase its capacity to 515 tonnes per year, according to Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries.


Burkina Faso Targets Local Gold Processing


Raffinor-BF is part of the government’s broader strategy to process more of Burkina Faso’s natural resources within the country instead of exporting raw materials for processing elsewhere.


Speaking during the inauguration, Traoré said the country wants to develop the entire mineral value chain domestically, including the processing, control, valuation and certification of its gold.


The refinery is designed to transform doré gold into fine gold bars with a purity of 99.99%, while also incorporating facilities for laboratory analysis, gold storage and jewellery production.


The plant occupies about five hectares in Ouagadougou and uses automated equipment designed for industrial gold refining.


$19 Million Investment


The Burkina Faso government said the refinery required an investment of more than 11 billion CFA francs, equivalent to roughly $19 million.


The project was financed mainly by the state through the National Precious Metals Company (SONASP), alongside private-sector partners.


The government expects the refinery to create more than 100 direct jobs and approximately 5,000 indirect jobs, according to local reporting.


Gold Is Central to Burkina Faso’s Economy


Burkina Faso is one of Africa’s major gold-producing countries. The country produced more than 94 tonnes of gold in 2025, according to figures cited by recent reports.


The new refinery’s initial capacity is therefore significantly higher than the country’s recent annual production. Officials say this could allow Raffinor-BF to eventually serve as a regional refining hub, particularly if the planned expansion is completed and additional gold is sourced from elsewhere in West Africa.


Government Moves Against Gold Smuggling


The refinery also comes as authorities seek tighter control over Burkina Faso’s gold industry, particularly informal and artisanal mining.


The government has previously raised concerns about gold being smuggled out of the country and has linked illicit gold trading to wider security challenges.


Authorities suspended gold exports from artisanal and semi-mechanised mining operations in 2024 as part of efforts to reorganise and regulate the sector.


By refining and certifying more gold domestically, the government hopes to improve oversight of the industry while ensuring that more economic value remains within Burkina Faso.


Part of a Wider Push for Mineral Sovereignty


The opening of Raffinor-BF reflects a wider trend across West Africa, where governments are seeking greater control over their mineral resources and encouraging local processing.


Countries including Ghana, Guinea, Mali and Ivory Coast have also taken steps toward expanding domestic gold refining and reducing dependence on exporting unprocessed minerals.


For Burkina Faso, however, the refinery carries an additional political significance. The Traoré-led government has presented greater control over natural resources as an important part of its drive for economic sovereignty.


With the first phase now operational and a planned expansion to 515 tonnes annually, Raffinor-BF could become an important part of Burkina Faso’s efforts to transform its gold industry from one focused mainly on extraction and exports into a more integrated domestic value chain.

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