• West African Resources began gold production early at Burkina Faso’s Kiaka mine, set to yield 234,000 oz/year.

• The project aims to reverse declining national output, forecast to rise to 65 tonnes by 2027.

• Other mines, including Bomboré and a new Nordgold site, will also boost production.

West African Resources (WAF) has poured the first gold bar at its new Kiaka gold mine in Burkina Faso, the Australian company announced Monday, June 30. This marks the commissioning of a key asset expected to help counter the country's recent decline in gold production.

Kiaka is a large-scale open-pit operation designed for an annual output capacity of 234,000 ounces of gold over a 20-year mine life. The mine began operations ahead of its original schedule, which was slated for the third quarter of 2025, and will boost Burkina Faso's gold output this year.

According to the World Bank, Burkina Faso is projected to produce 56 tons of gold in 2025. This figure is expected to rise to 64 tons in 2026 and 65 tons in 2027. These projections contrast with the country's industrial output in recent years: 67 tons in 2021, 57.6 tons in 2022, 56.8 tons in 2023, and just 53.3 tons in 2024.

In addition to Kiaka, several other projects are expected to contribute to the country's production rebound in the coming years. These include a ramp-up at Canadian firm Orezone's Bomboré mine, government-backed efforts to increase output at the Boungou and Wahgnion mines, and the commissioning of a new gold operation by Russian miner Nordgold.

Written in French by Emiliano Tossou,

Translated and adapted into English by Mouka Mezonlin