In 2024, Burkina Faso remained an important regional producer of several mineral commodities, even though its overall role in global mineral supply was modest. Production of cement, gold, and silver contributed significantly to the national economy. In 2023, the latest year for which information was available, the mining industry of Burkina Faso accounted for 14.8% of the gross domestic product of the country and gold dominated the mineral sector, with exports accounting for more than three-quarters of the country’s total export value. The mineral commodities produced in Burkina Faso included cement, gold, silver, and formerly zinc, although zinc production ceased following the closure of the Perkoa Mine in 2022.
The legal framework governing mineral development in the country was based on Law No. 036-2015/CNT, the Mining Code, which was later amended by Law No. 012-2023/ALT with further reforms in July 2024 and the adoption of the Mining Law No. 016-2024/ALT. Oversight of the sector was carried out by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries, supported by agencies such as the General Directorate of Mines and Geology, the General Directorate of the Mining Cadastre, and the Permanent Secretariat of the Commission of Energy and Mines. Most mineral production came from privately owned companies, although the Government retained a 15% free-carried interest in both large-and small-scale mining operations throughout the life of each mine. The country also exported mineral commodities, primarily gold.
