Tenkodogo: The High Commissioner observes the restoration of the Bissa Gold tailings park: The High Commissioner of Bam, Karim Ouedraogo, conducted a follow-up visit to the tailings pond of the Bissa Gold mine to ensure adherence to environmental standards and assess measures for local population protection.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the High Commissioner was accompanied by key provincial authorities, including Commander Mahamadou Zoungrana, provincial director of Water and Forests, Kito Yaya Soulama, provincial director of the National Police, and the deputy commander of the territorial gendarmerie brigade. They were received by Paul Ouedraogo, the Health-Safety-Environment director of the mine, who detailed the restoration work progress on the 208-hectare tailings park.

Paul Ouedraogo noted that reforestation efforts began in 2023 after the first park was filled in 2021. Currently, 90% of the seedlings have survived, with some surpassing three meters in height. For the year 2025, 21,000 plants have been planted, maintaining a survival rate of over 90%. The species planted include acacias, prosopis, and eucalyptus, selected for their adaptability and pollution-combatting properties.

The delegation visited the reforested areas from 2023 and the sites for the 2025 campaign. The provincial director of Water and Forests commended the mine's restoration efforts and urged continued large-scale reforestation across declassified areas. During the visit, the delegation observed the mine's dust-control measures, which involve regular surface watering.

The High Commissioner encouraged Bissa Gold to intensify restoration efforts and enhance the environmental framework. This visit follows concerns raised in recent months about the mine's tailings pond management, highlighted during a demonstration by citizens' organizations last August in Imiougou.