Burkina Faso inaugurates first national gold refinery

Burkina Faso has inaugurated its first national gold refinery, known as RAFFINOR-BF, in Ouagadougou. The state-funded facility represents an investment of over 11 billion CFA francs (approximately $19 million) and spans five hectares.

In its initial phase, the refinery has an annual processing capacity of 164 tonnes of gold, with plans to expand this to 515 tonnes in the future. The facility aims to produce gold with a purity of up to 99.99%, meeting international market standards.

The project is a central component of Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s strategy to increase domestic control over the country’s mineral resources. By transitioning from a raw material exporter to a processor, the government intends to capture more value within its borders, create jobs, and improve the traceability of gold to combat smuggling, fraud, and the financing of armed groups.