Burkina Faso took a significant step towards economic independence and industrial development with the inauguration of its first gold refinery, RAFFINOR-BF.
President Ibrahim Traoré highlighted the strategic importance of this initiative, which aims to control the entire value chain of the extractive industry, starting with gold.
The refinery, inaugurated this Monday, is expected to generate more wealth, create jobs, and improve the control of domestic financial flows.
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“In everything related to the extractive industry, we want to have the entire value chain under control, and we are starting with gold,” Traoré emphasized. “As I mentioned before, there are many other metals in our subsurface that we want to extract, but we want to control everything down to the smallest detail,” he added.
Traoré stressed that Burkina Faso’s gold should be processed and certified within the country. “Refining gold in our territory will generate more wealth, create qualified jobs, strengthen the traceability of our production, and improve control over financial flows. Additionally, it will enable us to combat illicit practices more effectively, such as fraud, smuggling, and money laundering,” he stated.
#BurkinaFaso | President Ibrahim Traoré inaugurated the country’s first gold refinery, allowing Burkina Faso to process and certify more of its mineral wealth domestically instead of exporting it in raw form.#IbrahimTraore #Gold #EconomicSovereignty #Africa #teleSUREnglish pic.twitter.com/cmziJ4GDp7
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) September 29, 2026
The refinery is the first of its kind in Burkina Faso, built to the highest international standards for transforming gold into ingots with a purity of 99.99%. The Minister of Mines, Yacouba Zabré Gouba, highlighted that this facility ensures that Burkina Faso’s gold is processed, controlled, validated, and certified within the country.
“From now on, Burkina Faso’s gold will not only be extracted within Burkina Faso but will also be processed, controlled, validated, and certified in Burkina Faso,” declared the Minister of State, Emile Zerbo.
Industrial Development
The construction of the refinery, costing over 11 billion CFA francs (around 19 millons dollars), was entirely funded by the Burkinabé State. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to developing various sectors of the economy. Traoré’s vision extends beyond gold to other minerals such as manganese, copper, and zinc. “Our ambition is no longer to be just a country that extracts its raw materials and exports them; we want to refine all our metals right here,” he said.
The inauguration of RAFFINOR-BF marks a pivotal moment in Burkina Faso’s industrial development. By controlling the entire value chain, the country aims to maximize the economic benefits of its natural resources. This move not only enhances domestic economic stability but also positions Burkina Faso as a key player in the global mining industry.
The refinery’s high standards and advanced technology ensure that the gold produced meets international quality benchmarks, making it competitive on the global market. This strategic investment is expected to attract further investments in the mining sector, fostering economic growth and job creation.
By processing and certifying the gold within the country, Burkina Faso can better monitor its financial flows and combat illicit activities. This level of control is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the mining industry and ensuring that the benefits of gold extraction are fully realized by the Burkinabé government.
Le premier lingot d’or frappé du sigle RBF, raffiné au Burkina Faso. Les temps anciens ne reviendront plus jamais. La puissance va irrémédiablement changer de camp. What a time to be alive! pic.twitter.com/RaIK8OZm6o
— Nathalie Yamb (@Nath_Yamb) September 28, 2026
The inauguration of RAFFINOR-BF is a testament to Burkina Faso’s commitment to economic sovereignty and industrial development. As the country continues to invest in its mining sector, it is poised to become a leader in the global gold market, generating wealth and creating opportunities for its people.
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