Burkina Faso's junta leader opens major gold refinery to keep mining profits at home
Junta leader Ibrahim Traoré wants the country to profit more from its mineral wealth.
Burkina Faso's military junta leader has inaugurated the country's first gold refinery, signalling a shift towards processing valuable minerals domestically. President Ibrahim Traoré stated that the facility will help the nation reduce its reliance on exporting raw materials and increase state control over the mining industry. The government aims for the refinery to refine all gold produced within Burkina Faso, with the capacity potentially expanding to process 515 tonnes per year.
The refinery's inauguration comes as gold production in the country has risen, and the government seeks to expand its role in the industry.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
