Burkina Faso doubles gold production

Burkina Faso more than doubled its gold production in 2009, reaching more than 11 tonnes, according to Prime Minister Tertius Zongo.

"Industrial production of gold passed around 5,000 kg in 2008 reaching 11,642 kilograms in 2009, which contributes to reinforcing the position of our country as a mining country," Zongo told lawmakers during the State of the Nation address on Thursday night.

While mining had slowed in the poor west African nation due to poor prices and rising mining costs, the Ouagadougou government undertook vast reforms in 2003 and 2006 to make the sector more attractive.

"Thanks to good precious metal prices in the world market in recent years, mining activity and the extractive industry experienced a real surge in Burkina Faso," said Zongo.

Several mining companies from Canada, South Africa, Australia, and Russia have acquired mining rights. The number of titles and authorisations issued went from 537 in 2008 to 599 in 2009, an increase of 11.6 percent, according to Zongo.

He pointed out that between 2003 and 2007 only 350 titles were issued.

Burkina Faso currently has five gold mines in production, including at south-central Taparko and Youga, Mana in the west and Kalsaka in the north. Between them, they have created some 1,350 permanent jobs, the prime minister said.

Two gold mines in Essakane and Inata in the north of the country are under construction as well as a zinc mine in Perkoa in the centre-west of Burkina Faso and a small manganese mine in the Kiere in the west.

All these mines are expected to start production in 2010.

Burkina Faso is also the main producer of cotton in sub-saharan Africa.

Sapa-AFP