Burkina Faso gold production rose to 36.5 T in 2014-govt

OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's gold production rose by 12 percent in 2014 to 36.5 tonnes, the government said in a statement on Thursday. Gold is the landlocked West African country's main export and accounts for roughly 20 percent of gross domestic product. In 2013, output was 32.5 tonnes. The rise came despite a revolution in October which ousted long-term leader Blaise Compaore as he sought to extend his rule of the poor West African country. Government revenues from the mining sector fell in 2014 from 191.4 billion CFA francs ($316.89 million) to 168.5 billion CFA francs ($278.97 million) due to a plunge in gold prices. ($1 = 604.0000 CFA francs)