• WAF produced 107,728 ounces of gold in Q1 2026

• Kiaka mine now accounts for the majority of output

• Company remains on track to meet annual production targets

West African Resources (WAF) reported gold production of 107,728 ounces for the first quarter of 2026 in Burkina Faso, driven largely by the ramp-up of its Kiaka mine, which began operations in June 2025.

The Australian group said Kiaka continues to scale up roughly nine months after its launch, delivering what it described as strong operational performance.

Output from WAF’s other site, Sanbrado, reached 42,024 ounces during the quarter, down 15% compared with the previous quarter. In contrast, Kiaka produced 65,704 ounces, up 6%, making it the main contributor to overall production.

“With quarterly production of 107,728 ounces gold from our two large low-cost gold production centres of Sanbrado  and  Kiaka  in  Burkina  Faso,  WAF  is  well  on-track  to  achieve  2026  annual  production  guidance  of  430,000 – 490,000 ounces of gold,” Chief Executive Officer Richard Hyde said.

The company noted that Sanbrado’s performance remains in line with its annual plan, with higher output expected in the coming quarters. Combined with continued gains at Kiaka, this trend could prove significant as gold producers seek to benefit from rising global prices.

The outlook also carries implications for Burkina Faso, which holds a 15% stake in both mines, while WAF owns the remaining 85%. The government has expressed interest in increasing its stake in Kiaka to 50%, in line with provisions under the 2024 mining code.

Discussions on the proposed increase have been ongoing for several months, but no agreement has been reached so far.

Aurel Sèdjro Houenou