Burkina Faso gold output rises sharply in 2025
Burkina Faso recorded a sharp increase in gold production in 2025 after reforms in the mining sector boosted output from both industrial and small-scale operations, as reported by Business Insider Africa on February 3rd.
The government said total gold output rose by more than 30 tonnes compared with 2024, making it one of the strongest years in Burkina Faso’s mining history. The figure includes production from industrial mines, artisanal mining and gold recovered through state seizures.
Minister Yacouba Zabré Gouba presented the results during a meeting with Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, outlining his department’s performance for 2025. Gouba said his ministry achieved nearly 90% of its targets under its performance contract.
He linked the profits mainly to reforms aimed at giving the state stronger control over the mining sector and keeping more value within the country.
“The mining sector performed very well in 2025,” the minister said. He noted that about 42 tonnes of gold came from artisanal mining alone, highlighting the growing role of small-scale producers in national output.
He said the increase was driven by the launch of the state-owned Burkina Faso Mining Participation Company, known as SOPAMIB, and tighter monitoring of the country’s 15 industrial mines. Authorities also stepped up efforts to fight illegal gold trading, recovering around 10 kilograms of gold from unofficial supply networks over the year.
Beyond mining, the ministry reported progress in the energy sector. Nearly 160,000 households were connected to the national electricity grid in 2025, while power was extended to 131 rural communities for the first time.
The government also installed more than 165 kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines and about 500 kilometres of low-voltage lines to improve the electricity supply across the country.
Urban safety was another focus area. Officials said more than 25,000 streetlights were installed in cities and nearby areas, improving visibility and security in public spaces.
“In 2026, we will work to firmly entrench energy and mining sovereignty,” said Gouba. Looking ahead to 2026, the government plans to deepen reforms in both mining and energy.
This includes restructuring the Bureau of Mines and Geology and organising artisanal miners into formal cooperatives. Authorities are also aiming to launch at least 10 semi-mechanised mining projects led entirely by local private investors.
Business Insider Africa, Maghrebi
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