Burkina Faso's military junta commissions nation’s first gold refinery
Burkina Faso’s military junta has commissioned the West African nation’s first gold refinery in its capital Ouagadougou.
The project, in partnership with Mali-based refinery company MARENA Gold, was commissioned by Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré on November 23.
The refinery is expected to have a production capacity of 150 tonnes per year and will produce its first gold ingots in 11 months, local media L'Observateur Paalga reports.
“For some time, gold has become the number one export product but we do not have control over this gold, whether it is research or production. Today we have decided to put a whole chain in place and with APEC we want to mine the gold ourselves,” Captain Ibrahim Traoré told journalists.
“Through this South-South cooperation and win-win partnership, all of its capacities and skills acquired over time will be mobilized and put at the service of this refinery. The gold produced will be of premium quality with 99.99% pure bars. It will be 24 carats according to international standards,” CEO of MARENA Gold, Ismaël Siby also said.
