The President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, inaugurated the country’s first gold refinery, RAFFINOR-BF, on Monday, September 28, 2026. This initial facility has a refining capacity of 164 tons of gold per year.

It’s done. Nothing is impossible for Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s Burkina Faso. The country now has its very first gold refinery, RAFFINOR-BF, with a refining capacity of 164 tons of gold per year for this initial facility. With the commissioning of the second facility, its refining capacity will increase to 515 tons per year.

This project mobilized 11 billion CFA francs, primarily funded by the State, through the National Society of Precious Substances, and private partners. " It’s a substantial investment, but an investment of sovereignty whose return will be measured not only in dividends, but also in foreign currency retained, strengthened mining taxes, and restored national dignity ," declared Adama Sawadogo, Managing Director of RAFFINOR-BF.

He explained that the factory is equipped with modern, enclosed, and automated equipment designed for clean operation. " The factory is modular, with refining lines added alongside those already installed, providing a theoretical refining capacity of 164 tons per year for the first phase. The second phase will increase the factory’s theoretical refining capacity to 515 tons per year ," he specified.

Delivering the message of the President of Faso, Yacouba Gouba Zabré, Minister of Mines, stressed that the commissioning of RAFFINOR-BF is a symbol of the joint commitment of the State and national investors to build a sovereign economy.

“ We are taking a decisive step in regaining our economic sovereignty. From now on, gold from Burkina Faso must no longer be extracted in Burkina Faso; it must be processed, controlled, valued and certified in Burkina Faso. From now on, we process what we produce ,” he argued.

RAFFINOR-BF, he continued, is the first gold refinery in Burkina Faso built according to the highest international standards for the transformation of gold into fine gold ingots of 999.9/1000 or 99.9%.

“ Gold refining on our territory will create more wealth, generate skilled jobs, strengthen the traceability of our production and improve the control of financial flows. It will also allow us to effectively combat illicit practices, including fraud, clandestine trade and money laundering ,” he said.

According to the Minister of Mines, the vision of the People’s Progressive Revolution is simple and firm. " Natural resources belong to the people. They must be used to improve their living conditions, with respect for the environment, social justice, and the interests of future generations."

The progressive popular revolution we are leading rests on one main conviction: a people cannot be truly sovereign if it does not progressively control its resources and the essential levers of its development. Our line is clear: the wealth of Burkina Faso must first and foremost contribute to building Burkina Faso ,” he declared.

For Yacouba Gouba, Burkina Faso does not reject partnerships. " But Burkina Faso rejects blind dependence. We want respectful, loyal partners who are aware that the time when Africa only provided the raw material while others captured the added value is over ," he insisted.

He indicated that the ambition is also to make this infrastructure a hub of skills for Burkinabe youth.

" Because sovereignty is not just about owning a factory. It is about being able to operate it, maintain it, improve it and, tomorrow, design others with our own genius ," he concluded.