Burkina Faso opens first gold refinery to strengthen mining sovereignty
Burkina Faso has taken a new step toward local gold processing with the inauguration of Raffinor-BF in Ouagadougou on September 28, 2026.
President Ibrahim Traoré officially opened the country’s first gold refinery, located on five hectares in the Ouaga 2000 area. The facility is part of the government’s strategy to strengthen mining sovereignty and retain more value from gold production within the country.
Raffinor-BF has an announced processing capacity of 400 kilograms of gold per day. The refinery can produce gold with a purity of up to 99.99%. The complex includes a foundry, an analysis laboratory, secure storage facilities and a jewellery unit.
The project was launched in November 2023, when Ibrahim Traoré laid its foundation stone. Its commissioning adds a new stage to Burkina Faso’s domestic mining chain, allowing the country to strengthen gold analysis, refining and processing locally.
Gold remains a major source of export revenue for Burkina Faso. By expanding domestic processing, the authorities aim to reduce reliance on foreign refineries, improve control over gold marketing and increase the economic benefits generated by the sector.
Raffinor-BF is therefore part of Burkina Faso’s broader policy to promote local processing. Its economic impact will depend on its operations, supply capacity, job creation and the amount of value retained within the national economy.
