West African Resources' Kiaka mine produces 4.15 tonnes of gold in first half

West African Resources' Kiaka gold mine in Burkina Faso produced 133,274 ounces, or about 4.15 tonnes, of gold in the first half of 2026, the company confirmed, keeping the ASX-listed miner on track to meet full-year group guidance of 430,000 to 490,000 ounces across its Burkina Faso operations. Kiaka entered production in late June 2025 and has been ramping up steadily since, with the mine expected to contribute between 240,000 and 280,000 ounces for the full 2026 year alongside 190,000 to 210,000 ounces from the company's older Sanbrado mine.

A bigger state stake

The ramp-up has coincided with Burkina Faso's government moving to increase its ownership of the project. A decree published in April 2026 authorised state entity SOPAMIB to acquire an additional 25% stake in Kiaka SA, valued at roughly CFA70 billion (about A$175 million), on top of the state's initial 15% holding secured when the mine was developed. The transaction was still being finalised as at mid-2026 rather than complete.

Why it matters

Burkina Faso's junta government has pursued a more assertive approach to mining ownership since 2022, previously bringing an industrial gold mine at Bouboulou into state-operator hands and pushing foreign miners including West African Resources to accept revised terms under the country's 2024 mining code. Kiaka's steady ramp-up despite operational friction, including explosives shortages tied to permit delays during the June quarter, shows that production growth and rising state participation are not necessarily incompatible, though the increased government stake will dilute the economics flowing to West African Resources' shareholders once finalised.

What happens next

West African Resources has committed $20 million to exploration across Kiaka, Sanbrado and nearby targets in 2026, with more than 100,000 metres of drilling planned to extend mine life. Completion of the SOPAMIB stake transaction remains the key near-term corporate milestone to watch, alongside whether Kiaka can sustain output at the top end of its production range through the second half of the year.

Sources

• Ecofin Agency: Burkina Faso: Kiaka Gold Mine Produces 4.15 Tonnes in H1, Keeping Its Operator on Track, 07 Jul 2026
• Mining Weekly: Burkina Faso government publishes decree to acquire 25% of Kiaka SA, 21 Apr 2026

Photo: Rural landscape in Burkina Faso. Jeff Attaway from Dakar, Senegal, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.