West African Resources in Burkina Faso is WhyAfrica’s Pick Of The Week
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West African Resources in Burkina Faso is WhyAfrica’s Pick Of The Week
When the chips are down gold still matters in West Africa
The gold price remains near record highs, fuelled by renewed geopolitical turmoil and weak currencies.
Despite challenges in West Africa, gold still matters. Although the security risks in a country like Burkina Faso are real and well known, the geology hasn’t changed.
Production at several operations continue where margins are strong and serious investors are quietly backing the ounces away from the headlines.
Solid performance by West African Resources
In 2025 West African Resources’ Sanbrado and Kiaka mines in Burkina Faso produced 300,383 ounces (oz) of gold, achieving 2025 group production guidance.
At Sanbrado, located about 90km southeast of Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, mining at the new M5 North pit got underway in the last quarter of 2025, resulting in 299kt ore mined at an average grade of 0.8g/t for 7,927 ounces of gold.
West African Resources has a 90% interest in Sanbrado, with the government of Burkina Faso holding a 10% interest (free carried).
First gold at Sanbrado was poured in March 2020, six months ahead of schedule and USD20-million under budget.
Mining ramps up at Kiaka
According to West African Executive Chairman and CEO Richard Hyde mining at the Kiaka open pit continued to ramp up with an increase of 76% in mined ounces in Quarter 4 2025 compared to the previous quarter.
Kiaka poured its maiden gold bars weighing 5.7kg (183.3 troy oz) in June 2025 three and a half years after acquiring the project from B2Gold and partner GAMS-Mining F&I in November 2021.
Kiaka, 85% owned by West African Resources and 15% by the Burkina Faso government, is about 45km south of Sanbrado.
Kiaka is a long-life, low-cost gold project averaging 234,000oz of gold production per annum for 20 years from 2025.
According to Hyde combined group gold production of 300,383 ounces from Sanbrado and Kiaka in 2025 was well within the company’s annual guidance of 290,000 to 360,000 ounces and was a record year of production for West African Resources.
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Image credit: West African Resources from https://www.westafricanresources.com/
West African Resources in Burkina Faso is WhyAfrica’s Pick Of The Week