Burkina Faso has taken a new step toward the local processing of its gold. On Monday, September 28, 2026, the country inaugurated its first gold refinery, RAFFINOR-BF, in Ouagadougou, an industrial facility designed to strengthen national control over the mining value chain and retain more value locally.
Located on a five-hectare site in Ouaga 2000, RAFFINOR-BF marks Burkina Faso’s entry into a new phase of mining development. Until now, a significant share of the country’s gold production was exported in unrefined form before being processed abroad. The new facility is intended to allow part of this refining process to be carried out directly in Ouagadougou.
The refinery has an announced capacity of 400 kilograms of gold per day, equivalent to approximately 150 tonnes per year. Some figures released during the inauguration put the first-phase capacity at between 164 and 167 tonnes per year. The facility is designed to produce fine gold with a purity of up to 99.99%, or 24 carats.
The complex includes a smelting plant, an analysis laboratory, secure storage facilities and a jewelry unit. It will also house the headquarters of the Société nationale des substances précieuses (SONASP). According to figures released by the authorities, the project is expected to create more than 100 direct jobs and around 5,000 indirect jobs.
A Gold Production Capacity That Supports the Investment
The importance of the project is reinforced by Burkina Faso’s substantial gold production. In 2025, national gold output exceeded 94 tonnes, including nearly 43 tonnes from artisanal and semi-mechanized mining. The mining sector generated more than CFAF 776 billion in government revenue, according to figures released by the Burkinabe authorities.
The trend continued in 2026. By the end of July, industrial gold production had reached 31.857 tonnes, up 12.8% year-on-year. Burkina Faso had already achieved 60.2% of its revised annual target, set at 52.938 tonnes of industrial gold for 2026.
Industrial output is complemented by production from artisanal and semi-mechanized mining. During the first half of 2026, industrial mines produced approximately 26.75 tonnes, while nearly 29 tonnes of gold were collected from artisanal and semi-mechanized operations by SONASP.
From Extraction to Processing
With RAFFINOR-BF, Burkina Faso is seeking to move one step further up the gold value chain. The objective is no longer limited to extracting the precious metal, but also to carry out part of its processing, testing, storage and value creation within the country.
The project was launched on November 23, 2023, when Captain Ibrahim Traoré laid the foundation stone. Initial official figures put the investment at CFAF 7 billion, with an initial refining capacity of approximately 149 tonnes per year.
The inauguration of RAFFINOR-BF therefore comes nearly three years after construction began and reflects the authorities’ ambition to develop a more integrated mining industry. The principle promoted by the authorities is local processing: “Burkina’s gold is refined in Burkina.”
For an economy in which gold has for several years been one of the main export commodities, the refinery creates an opportunity to retain an additional share of the value generated by the country’s gold resources while developing industrial skills and related activities around the sector.
With national gold production exceeding 94 tonnes in 2025 and industrial production forecast at more than 52.9 tonnes in 2026 alone, Burkina Faso now has an industrial refining facility with an annual capacity of around 150 tonnes, according to the figures released. This provides significant room to support the growth of national production and strengthen the local processing of Burkina Faso’s gold.
