<p><span>Five countries have opened gold-refining facilities as African gold producers seek to keep more of their wealth at home.</span></p>
<p>As it stands, large amounts of raw gold ore leave Africa for refining. The gold later returns to the continent as imports in the form of coins, bars, and jewelry.</p>
<p>Zambia is the latest country to welcome a gold refining facility. According to <em>Africa Business Insider</em>, Minera Refineries Zambia Limited operates the facility, which can refine gold up to 99.99 percent purity.</p>
<div x-data=" item_id: undefined, view: null " x-html="view || 'Product-Random-Hot'" x-init="view = await (await fetch('/shortcodes/product/random/hot?category=2')).text()">!!–Product-Random-Hot-2–!!</div>
<p>According to the <em>Zambian Observer</em>, the company believes the facility will generate more than $1.8 billion.</p>
<p>African Business Insider reports that the new refinery is expected to “<em>capture more value from its gold production, formalize small-scale mining, and diversify its mineral exports</em>.”</p>
<p>Gold accounts for about $262 million in Zambian exports, about 2 percent of the country’s total.</p>
<p>Zambian officials say the refinery will also help formalize artisanal mining. These are small-scale operations generally run by individuals, families, or small groups using simple tools and minimal mechanization. These mines often operate outside of any regulatory structure.</p>
<p>The hope is that a competitive local buyer and refinery could bring more production into recorded exports and the tax system.</p>
<p>Minera Refineries Zambia Limited managing director Andrew Mukupa Katandula recently outlined a 2-year plan to formalize artisanal mining in Zambia. The scheme includes “targeted pre-financing” for miners and improved transparency in gold production and trade.</p>
<p>Zambia is just the most recent African country to enter the gold processing game.</p>
<p>Earlier this month, a gold refinery opened in Ethiopia. State-owned Ethiopian Investment Holdings holds a majority stake in the $50 million joint venture. It will provide services including, including melting, testing, refining, casting, bar minting, and die-making.</p>
<div x-data=" item_id: undefined, view: null " x-html="view || 'Product-Random-Best'" x-init="view = await (await fetch('/shortcodes/product/random/best?category=2')).text()">!!–Product-Random-Best-2–!!</div>
<p>Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the facility will process gold from Ethiopia and elsewhere.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“It enables neighboring countries and regional mining companies to bring their gold to ‌Ethiopia for advanced refining, certification, value addition, and sale, eliminating the need to export it outside the continent."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Officials say the refinery will process more than 600 tonnes of precious metal annually.</p>
<p>Gold exports serve as one of Ethiopia’s primary sources of foreign exchange, earning the country $5.6 billion in 2025.</p>
<p>A month earlier, state-owned Raffinerie Nationale d’Or du Burkina Faso began operations in Ouagadougou. According to <em>Business Insider Africa</em>, this facility will process, assay, certify, and store gold domestically, with an initial capacity of around 515 tonnes per year.</p>
<p>Gold accounts for nearly 94 percent of Burkina Faso’s export earnings.</p>
<p>President Ibrahim Traoré said the refinery will help the country move beyond mineral extraction and “<em>develop the full value chain locally</em>.” He went on to say, “O<em>ur ambition goes beyond gold</em>.”</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“We want to make the mining sector a driver of industrial transformation.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Meanwhile, a high-purity gold refinery opened in Lagos, Nigeria, in January, and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in March.</p>
<p>African leaders hope development of domestic refining capacity will keep more African wealth in Africa. It could also drive job creation and boost local gold jewelry production.</p>
