Burkina Faso: Three new decrees to structure the mining sector sustainably
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Burkina Faso, the Minister of Energy, Mines, and Quarries, Yacouba Zabré GOUBA, chaired a key working session with stakeholders in the mining sector. Organized by the Permanent Secretariat for Local Content and Investment Promotion (SP/CLPI), the meeting aimed to present the main innovations introduced by three new decrees and to identify the challenges related to their implementation.
These regulatory texts are part of a broader strategy to strengthen local content in Burkina Faso’s extractive sector. A six-month transition period has been granted for their effective enforcement, and various stakeholders—mining companies, subcontractors, and suppliers—have expressed their willingness to cooperate during this phase.
The first decree focuses on local supply and subcontracting. It prioritizes Burkinabe companies, requires official accreditation for operating in the sector, and establishes a centralized platform for publishing calls for tenders. The second decree addresses employment and skills development. It sets hiring quotas in favor of nationals, reserves specific positions for Burkinabè citizens, and mandates mining companies to invest in vocational training, including through internships.
The third decree creates a local content support fund. This mechanism is designed to address financial challenges faced by local actors and to finance joint projects that support the broader mining ecosystem. In his address, Minister GOUBA announced that a ministerial order would further strengthen this regulatory framework. He called on all parties to take ownership of the decrees to ensure their effectiveness.
Seydou Bouda, representing local subcontractors, called for enhanced financial support mechanisms. Priscille P. ZONGO, Executive Director of the Chamber of Mines, welcomed the commitment of mining companies to this transformative agenda. Through these reforms, Burkina Faso reaffirms its determination to make local content a true driver of inclusive and sustainable economic development.
