Burkina Faso: Ibrahim Traoré opens first gold refinery in push for mining sovereignty
Burkina Faso inaugurated its first gold refinery, Raffinor-BF, on 28 September in the presence of junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, according to a presidency statement. Construction began in late November 2023, and the refinery has the capacity to process 164 tonnes of gold a year, with plans to raise this eventually to 515 tonnes. It cost more than CFA11bn ($20m), financed by the Burkinabè state in partnership with domestic private investors, and is expected to create 100 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs.
Why it matters: The inauguration advances the junta's stated objective of mining sovereignty by locating gold refining inside Burkina Faso rather than exporting raw material.