Burkina Faso’s President Traoré reopens SN-BRAFASO brewery
Rehabilitated SN-BRAFASO brewery reopens with 600,000 hl capacity, promising 200 jobs and driving local beverage production.
BURKINA FASO – Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré has officially inaugurated the newly rehabilitated brewery of Société nouvelle‑Brasseries du Faso (SN-BRAFASO), an industrial plant that had been dormant since 2008.
The reopening marks a major step in the government’s push to revive struggling industrial units and leverage local agricultural resources.
Rehabilitation of SN-BRAFASO cost more than 17 billion FCFA (US$30.09M), with an authorized capital of 6 billion FCFA (US$10.62M), 70% of which is held by the state.
The facility specializes in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and now boasts an annual production capacity of 600,000 hectolitres.
The expanded capacity will allow the firm to process locally available raw materials such as maize, sorghum, and rice.
The relaunch is expected to create substantial employment: 200 permanent jobs, 100 temporary jobs, and around 20,000 indirect jobs, strengthening both industrial activity and local livelihoods.
During the inauguration, President Traoré expressed deep pride in reopening what he described as an “industrial gem” dormant for two decades. He characterized the relaunch as more than a technical restart; in his words, it represents “a victory over imperialism and a testament to the resilience of the Burkinabè people.”
He urged SN-BRAFASO’s management and workforce to show discipline, rigour, and patriotism, highlighting that quality production will be vital to earn consumers’ trust and ensure the company’s long-term viability.
The reopening aligns with the government’s broader vision of economic sovereignty. By reviving industrial units, authorities aim to expand the productive base, create jobs, and strengthen domestic capacity for processing locally available resources.
Upon reopening, SN-BRAFASO launched two flagship beverages, branded “BRAF’OR” and “BRAFASO,” produced under what officials described as high-quality standards.
In the medium term, the company plans to broaden its product range further to include soft drinks and mineral water to meet diverse consumer demands.
Industry Minister Serge Gnaniodem Poda recalled SN-BRAFASO’s turbulent history — founded in 2004 and closed in 2008, with the state acquiring the company in 2012 at a cost of over 40 billion FCFA (US$70.8M). However, previous revival efforts had failed.
The minister said a decisive push by President Traoré in March 2024 initiated a rigorous rehabilitation process. Over 20 months of intensive work conducted in Burkina Faso and China, the project was completed efficiently, fulfilling the presidential directive: “Change the pace, everything is urgent!”
The reopening of SN-BRAFASO signals renewed hope for Burkina Faso’s industrial sector, showcasing a commitment to domestic value-addition, job creation and economic resilience.
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