Impact of New Mining Technologies on Large-Scale and Artisanal Mining in Burkina Faso

The report examines how technological advancements in the mining sector of Burkina Faso affect employment across industrial, artisanal, and administrative levels. While industrial mines are slowly adopting automation and remote work, artisanal mining is seeing a shift toward semi-mechanization. The document highlights significant risks of job losses for low-skilled workers and women, while proposing policies for skill redevelopment, local content enhancement, and transparency in technology adoption.

• Large-scale mining companies in Burkina Faso often withhold information about technological changes to avoid community conflicts over potential job losses, arguing that low local labour costs make older, more labour-intensive methods a "win–win" strategy for profitability and social stability.
• Technological progress in industrial mining threatens a high proportion of the workforce, particularly those in routine, repetitive roles. A study of three companies (Houndé Gold, Riverstone Karma, and IAMGOLD Essakane) indicates that 78.4% of their combined workforce, or 3,487 employees, are likely to be impacted by technological change.
• The transition from open-cast to underground mining is a significant driver of job loss, as underground operations are often contracted to subcontractors who bring their own expatriate staff, typically resulting in the loss of at least half of the previous jobs.
• Artisanal mining is evolving toward semi-mechanization, with the introduction of pneumatic drills, explosives, and mechanical grinders. While this improves yields, it threatens traditional female-dominated roles; for example, a single crushing machine can replace 20 people, and a GoldKacha-type centrifuge can replace 20 to 30 employees in washing operations.
• Governmental mine governance is also being streamlined by technology, leading to significant staff reductions. The use of GPS and drones for mapping and monitoring has reduced some staffing needs to a third, and the computerization of the Mining Registry is expected to cut staff from 26 to 15 people.
• There is a potential for positive skills transfer from industrial to artisanal mining, as redundant workers from large mines may apply their expertise to semi-mechanized operations, potentially improving safety and yields in the artisanal sector.

APA

Ouedraogo, M. (2021). Impact of New Mining Technologies on Large-Scale and Artisanal Mining in Burkina Faso. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/impact-new-mining-technologies-burkina-faso-en.pdf

Chicago

Ouedraogo, Moïse. Impact of New Mining Technologies on Large-Scale and Artisanal Mining in Burkina Faso. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/impact-new-mining-technologies-burkina-faso-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ouedraogo |first1=Moïse |title=Impact of New Mining Technologies on Large-Scale and Artisanal Mining in Burkina Faso |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=December 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/impact-new-mining-technologies-burkina-faso-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ouedraogo2021impact, author = {Ouedraogo, Moïse}, title = {{Impact of New Mining Technologies on Large-Scale and Artisanal Mining in Burkina Faso}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = dec, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/impact-new-mining-technologies-burkina-faso-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }