# Gold mining production and investment in West Africa > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/gold-mining-production-and-investment-in-west-africa > Updated: 2026-10-02T12:21:12.000Z. Sources: 66. Developments: 6. Burkina Faso’s gold sector has experienced significant economic growth, with 2025 exports valued at approximately $10 billion, accounting for over 91% of the nation’s total export value. This surge has drawn interest from Saudi Arabian investors, including Sarmady Co., who met with the Burkinabe ambassador in Riyadh to discuss potential mining partnerships, noting that local security improvements are a key factor for future cooperation. By June 2026, mining production in the region continued to rise. In Burkina Faso, industrial gold production saw a 39.6% year-on-year increase in June, with mines producing 4.477 tonnes compared to 3.206 tonnes in the previous year. Cumulative industrial production reached 26.752 tonnes for the first half of the year, representing a 10.3% increase over the same period in 2025. Senegal also reported growth in its gold sector, with production value rising by 10.1% in June to 62.5 billion FCFA. On September 28, 2026, President Ibrahim Traoré inaugurated the country’s first national gold refinery, RAFFINOR-BF, in Ouagadougou. This facility represents a strategic move toward economic sovereignty and the local transformation of mineral resources. Established with an investment of over 11 billion FCFA (approximately $19 million or €16.8 million), the plant uses automated technology to produce gold bars with a purity of up to 99.99%. In its initial phase, the refinery has a processing capacity of approximately 150 to 167 tons of gold per year, with plans to expand to a total capacity of 515 tons. The project is expected to create approximately 100 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs. By transitioning from a raw material exporter to a processor, the government intends to capture more value, improve traceability to combat smuggling and the financing of armed groups, and increase public revenue. ## Claims - The refinery has an initial annual capacity of 164 to 167 tonnes of gold. (corroborated by 22 sources) - The RAFFINOR-BF refinery project cost more than 11 billion CFA francs. (corroborated by 21 sources) - The refinery capacity is projected to reach 515 tonnes per year in a second phase. (corroborated by 20 sources) - The government aims to process all metals locally to control the entire value chain. (corroborated by 19 sources) - The project was funded by the state through the National Precious Substances Company (SONASP) and private partners. (corroborated by 18 sources) - The RAFFINOR-BF refinery was inaugurated in Ouagadougou on September 28, 2026. (corroborated by 18 sources) - The refinery will produce gold with a purity level of up to 99.99 percent. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The refinery is expected to create 100 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Burkina Faso produced more than 94 tonnes of gold in 2025. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Burkina Faso is inaugurating its first national gold refinery, RAFFINOR-BF. (single source) - The RAFFINOR-BF refinery has a daily processing capacity of up to 400 kilograms of gold. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-02: Burkina Faso inaugurates first domestic gold refinery Burkina Faso has launched Raffinor BF, its first gold refinery, to increase domestic value addition and control over mineral resources, joining a regional trend in West Africa. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/burkina-faso-inaugurates-first-domestic-gold-refinery ### 2026-09-30: Burkina Faso inaugurates first national gold refinery Burkina Faso has launched RAFFINOR-BF, its first state-funded gold refinery, to increase domestic mineral processing and economic sovereignty. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/burkina-faso-inaugurates-first-national-gold-refinery ### 2026-09-28: Burkina Faso inaugurates first national gold refinery RAFFINOR-BF Burkina Faso has inaugurated RAFFINOR-BF, its first national gold refinery, in Ouagadougou to boost economic sovereignty and local mineral processing. 44 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/burkina-faso-to-inaugurate-first-gold-refinery ### 2026-09-25: Burkina Faso inaugurates first national gold refinery RAFFINOR-BF Burkina Faso will inaugurate RAFFINOR-BF, its first national gold refinery, capable of processing 400kg of gold daily to increase local value capture and economic control. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/guinea-launches-2500-billion-gnf-bond-issue-for-development ### 2026-09-14: Gold and mineral production rises in Senegal and Burkina Faso Gold and mineral production surged in June 2026 across West Africa, with Senegal seeing gains in gold and salt, and Burkina Faso reporting a 39.6% annual increase in industrial gold output. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gold-and-mineral-production-rises-in-senegal-and-burkina-faso ### 2026-09-05: Burkina Faso gold exports reach $10 billion, attracting Saudi interest Burkina Faso’s gold exports reached $10 billion in 2025, accounting for 91% of total exports and attracting preliminary investment interest from Saudi Arabia’s Sarmady Co. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/burkina-faso-gold-exports-reach-10-billion-attracting-saudi-interest --- Cite as: Gold mining production and investment in West Africa. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/gold-mining-production-and-investment-in-west-africa