Burkina Faso’s government has revoked the operating license for the large gold mine run by Taparko Mining S.A.
The decision, announced on Thursday, September 11, 2025, comes after authorities cited legal disputes and the company’s failure to meet its socio-economic commitments.
The government stated that Taparko Mining S.A., formerly known as Société des mines de Taparko (SOMITA S.A.), is involved in a legal dispute that could prevent it from achieving its intended goals. Citing Article 126 of the country’s Mining Code, the government is taking back the permit to ensure the gold deposit can be exploited to generate revenue for the public. These funds would be used to address the country’s needs and its ongoing security challenges.
The mine had been shut down since April 2022, with the former CEO citing the “deteriorating security situation” as the reason. In May 2023, a Malian company, Skygold Resources, announced it would resume operations.
The shutdown had a major impact on production. In 2022, only 353 kg of gold were sold, a significant drop from the 2.92 tonnes sold in 2022. Revenue also fell sharply, from 94.48 billion CFA francs in 2022 to just 12.615 billion CFA francs in 2022.
According to the Burkina Faso EITI Report 2023, the extractive sector, which is dominated by gold, had a record production of 57.35 tonnes in 2022, a 10% increase from the previous year. The sector contributed 14.8% of the country’s GDP, 75.5% of its exports, and provided 25,000 direct jobs. The report also highlighted the need for better transparency in licensing, export data, and cost auditing to ensure the sustainability of the sector.
HO/ac/fss/abj/APA