An Australian-listed mining firm, West African Resources, has successfully delivered its first gold pour at the Kiaka gold project in Burkina Faso, producing a 5.7-kilogram (approximately 183.3-ounce) gold bar during an on-site smelting process.
The milestone, achieved ahead of schedule and below budget, marks the beginning of what is expected to be one of West Africa’s most significant gold operations.
According to Miningmx, the Executive Chairman Richard Hyde lauded the achievement as a critical step toward the company’s target of producing over 500,000 ounces of gold annually by 2030.
“This first gold pour, just three and a half years after acquiring Kiaka, is a tremendous accomplishment,” Hyde said. He credited the construction team, financial partners Sprott and Coris Bank, and other stakeholders for their support.
West African Resources acquired a 90% stake in the Kiaka project in November 2021 from B2Gold Corp and GAMS-Mining F&I. The remaining 10% is retained by the Government of Burkina Faso.
Construction was completed in Q2 2025, aligning with the company’s aggressive development timeline.
The launch of gold production at Kiaka also marks growing investor confidence in West African Resources’ operations within Burkina Faso—a country that, while rich in resources, presents geopolitical complexities.
In parallel, Burkina Faso has enacted sweeping reforms to assert greater control over its mining sector. In July 2024, the government revised its mining code, increasing the state’s free equity share in new projects from 10% to 15%, with an option to acquire an additional 15%.
These reforms also mandate increased domestic ownership, reduced permit durations, and partial local processing of mined gold.
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A new state-owned mining company, SOPAMIB, has begun consolidating key national assets, and a national gold refinery is under construction in Ouagadougou to improve transparency and reduce reliance on foreign processing. To combat illicit exports, the government has temporarily suspended small-scale export permits.
Gold remains vital to Burkina Faso’s economy, accounting for nearly 80% of export revenue and 14% of GDP.
The reforms aim to ensure more of that wealth remains within national borders—potentially setting a precedent for other resource-rich African countries seeking to assert economic sovereignty.
Image Credit: Tipreanks
