Full list: 10 African countries with the most gold refineries

Africa is home to some of the world’s biggest gold-producing countries, with several nations increasingly investing in local refineries to process gold before it is exported.

Gold refining has become an important part of efforts by African governments to increase the value they derive from their mineral resources and reduce the export of raw or semi-processed gold.

Recent research published in 2026 shows that Ghana has the highest reported number of gold refineries in Africa, followed by Zambia, while Uganda and Tanzania also have multiple refining facilities.

However, the exact number varies between sources because some databases count only established refineries, while other...