Burkina Faso has inaugurated its first national gold refinery, RAFFINOR-BF, in Ouagadougou as authorities seek to expand local processing of the country’s gold resources.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré officially inaugurated the facility on Monday, September 28, 2026, at a ceremony in the Ouaga 2000 district. The refinery was built on a five-hectare site and represents an investment of more than CFAF 11 billion, according to Burkina Faso’s government.
RAFFINOR-BF has an initial refining capacity of 164 tonnes of gold per year. A second phase is planned to increase the facility’s overall capacity to 515 tonnes annually. The refined gold can reach a purity of 99.99%, according to information released during the inauguration.
The complex includes a foundry, an analysis laboratory, a secure storage area and a jewellery unit. The project is being financed by the Burkinabè state, particularly through the Société nationale des substances précieuses (SONASP), with participation from private investors.
The refinery project dates back to November 2023, when Traoré laid its foundation stone in Ouagadougou. Its inauguration now gives Burkina Faso an additional facility for analysing, refining and transforming gold within the country rather than relying entirely on external processing facilities.
Authorities also expect the project to create employment, with figures presented around the inauguration indicating more than 100 direct jobs and about 5,000 indirect jobs.
The government says RAFFINOR-BF is part of a broader strategy to increase local value addition and strengthen control over the country’s gold value chain, from processing and certification to storage and marketing.