🇧🇫⚡️ — Burkina Faso has inaugurated its first gold refinery as President Ibrahim Traoré seeks to process more of the country’s mineral resources domestically and retain greater control over the gold industry.

The $19 million Raffinor-BF facility in Ouagadougou can initially refine 164 tonnes annually, with plans to expand capacity to 515 tonnes and potentially process gold from across West Africa.

Traoré said the goal is to develop the entire gold value chain inside Burkina Faso and reduce reliance on foreign companies.