A Legacy of Renown
Before being integrated into Soleil Resources, the Youga mine was operated by several international mining giants, notably Endeavour and Avesoro, testifying to its strategic value and exceptional potential.
Presentation
of the mine
The Youga mine, an iconic site of the Burkinabe mining industry, received in 2003 its first industrial mining exploitation permit, for an initial period of 20 years. Entering production in 2008, this mine is located 185 km south of Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.
In January 2022, mining activities were suspended until Soleil Resources
acquired the site. From this acquisition, revival works began in July 2024,
followed by production trials in September 2024.
Thanks to these efforts, the plant regained its normal production capacity in January 2025,
marking an important milestone in the revitalization of the mine.
Technical Characteristics and Operations
The Youga mine is distinguished by its technical and operational specificities, demonstrating its strategic role in the Burkinabe mining industry. Thanks to modern infrastructure and optimized processes, the site maximizes the valorization of gold resources in the region. Here is an overview of the key elements that characterize its exploitation:
Type of Operation
The Youga mine is based on a CIL (Carbon-In-Leach) process, exploited through several open-pit gold deposits.
Processing Capacity
The ore is processed in a 1.2 Mtpa (million tonnes per year) facility.
Associated Deposits
The site also processed ore from the Ouaré and Netiana/Balogo deposits.
At full operation, the Youga plant has the capacity to produce between 90,000 and 110,000 ounces of gold per year, contributing significantly to regional economic development.
Management Team
Here are the key members who lead the strategic activities of the Youga Mine:
Staff Overview
As of the end of December 2025, Soleil Resources employs 583 people, including 3 expatriates. The group promotes the development of local skills while integrating international expertise to meet the needs of its projects. Its employment policy aims to strike a balance between stability and mobility within the organization.
Workforce Mobilization and Composition
The group implements a dynamic workforce mobilization strategy, achieving a participation rate of 80%.
Key highlights:
- Mobilization rate: 80%
- Total workforce: 583 employees, including 3 expatriates
Priority to Local Workforce and Women’s Employment
Although women remain underrepresented within the overall workforce, they nevertheless hold senior-level responsibilities and have a strong presence among technicians and supervisory staff. Local community employment concerns are also well addressed, with priority given to local labor.
Our Commitments:
- Priority given to local employment for eligible positions
- Competitive recruitment processes to ensure fairness
- Women in leadership roles within technical teams
Subcontracting and Upcoming Projects
The workforce of subcontracting companies currently represents more than 579 people. This number is expected to grow with upcoming projects, as the group plans to expand subcontracting employment in the coming months to support its development.
Key points:
- Current subcontractor workforce: over 579 people
- Upcoming projects with an expected increase in subcontracting
Mine Extension
The new Youga mine line is designed to process 1.2 million tonnes per year. The production circuit of the new plant will include a grinding sector, a cone crusher, conveyors, a screen, a crushed ore stock, a 3MW Ball mill and hydrocyclones for product size classification. The cyclone overflow will be sent to a thickener, then the thickened slurry pumped to the CIL circuit. The CIL circuit will consist of six leaching basins, with an oxygen plant. The loaded carbon will be processed in the existing gold recovery circuit and gold doré bars will be produced in the existing gold room. CIL tailings will be pumped to the existing tailings facility.
Mine Plan
