Ouagadougou: Waste electrical and electronic components contain significantly higher concentrations of gold than mined ore, according to Professor Moussa Bougouma, coordinator of the Center of Expertise for the Recovery and Valorization of Metals (CERVAM).
According to Burkina Information Agency, who spoke to journalists on Tuesday at Norbert Zongo University, it takes approximately 240,000 tons of ore to extract 1 kilogram of gold, compared to just 800 tons of electronic waste to obtain the same quantity. Components such as RAM sticks, processor cards, and mobile phone cards are rich in precious metals, containing about 80% more gold than traditional ore.
Prof. Bougouma urged stakeholders in Burkina Faso’s mining sector to explore the untapped potential of electronic waste recovery, not only for its economic benefits but also for its environmental and health advantages. He noted that although Burkina Faso has the expertise to extract metals from this waste, most of it is exported to Europe and other regions, limiting local benefits.
“CERVAM has the necessary knowledge for the recovery of precious metals from electrical and electronic components, but it needs support to fully realize this potential,” Bougouma emphasized.