Burkina Faso Opens First Gold Refinery, Targets Local Control Of Mining - Sahara Reporters

AI desk brief

Burkina Faso has opened its first gold refinery in Ouagadougou, a state-backed project aimed at keeping more value from domestic gold production and reducing raw doré exports. The RAFFINOR-BF plant has an initial capacity of 164 tonnes per year, with plans to expand to 515 tonnes, and is designed to process both industrial and artisanal output into fine-gold bars.

The country produced about 94 tonnes of gold in 2025, so the refinery is potentially large relative to current national output if expansion proceeds. Officials say the move should improve certification, control smuggling, and position Burkina Faso as a regional refining hub, but the near-term market impact on global gold prices looks limited and more structural than immediate.