After turning away from Westerners, Burkina Faso attracts powerhouses like Saudi Arabia and Russia as gold production jumps 1.5 times under Traoré - Business Insider Africa

AI desk brief

Burkina Faso’s reported gold output rose nearly 50% to 90.80 tonnes in 2025 from 60.77 tonnes in 2024, according to ministry data cited via Sputnik; artisanal output increased from 7.13 to 39.11 tonnes. In first-half 2026, industrial mines produced 26 tonnes while state-owned SONASP purchased approximately 29 tonnes—procurement rather than a separate production measure. Formalisation could explain part of the recorded growth, limiting conclusions about incremental global supply. President Traoré inaugurated the country’s first refinery in September 2026, with stated initial capacity of 164 tonnes annually; capacity does not establish actual throughput or additional mine supply.