- Significant potential, but not sufficiently exploited
- Rocks, minerals and building materials identified
- 8900 jobs created
- Insufficiently exploited resources
The geological and mining potential of Burkina Faso’s subsoil is quite significant and diversified. However, the quarrying sector seems to be little known and yet provides employment and wealth. These minerals remain neglected in development approaches in most sub-Saharan countries and the sector remains dominated by the craft industry.
Quarry substances are also known as useful substances. They are non-metallic mineral substances that can be grouped into three categories. These are industrial minerals, industrial rocks and building materials.
Indeed, Article 22 of the Mining Code considers as quarry substances, deposits of building, paving and viability materials, and soil improvement materials used for the ceramic industry.
Rocks, minerals and building materials
According to the database on quarry substances provided by the Burkina Faso Bureau of Mines and Geology (BUMIGEB), the industrial rocks present in Burkina Faso include phosphate, cement limestone, dolomite limestone, common clay and kaolin, silica for industrial use (white sand).
For example, the phosphate deposits are at Kodjari (Tapoa) with estimated resources of 100 million tonnes at a grade of around 30% P2O5. Aloub-Djouana (Tapoa) has estimated phosphate resources of between 25 and 45 million tonnes at a grade of 20% P2O5. The Arly deposit (Tapoa): estimated reserves of 2,700,000 tonnes of ore.
Industrial minerals present in Burkina Faso include Feldspar (from pegmatites), Graphite, Talc. As for building materials, there are granites and similar rocks, ornamental stones, laterite, aggregates (gravel, sand).
In terms of jobs created, it is estimated that at least 900 jobs will be created in industrial quarries and 8,000 in artisanal quarries.
The contribution of careers to the state budget is important but insufficient.
Although available in Burkina Faso, these resources are not sufficiently exploited. Indeed, this is the case for granites and similar rocks, which with an estimated potential of more than 500 sites, are not sufficiently developed.
Furthermore, the situation of the permits as of 30 May 2020 indicates that the valid industrial permits were as follows: 23 quarries in effective operation, 11 in cessation of activities, about forty awaiting operation, about twenty applications in progress. As for semi-mechanised permits, there were about ten applications pending as of 30 May 2020.
Rachid Ouedraogo
#Mines_Actu_Burkina
