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Guinea has introduced a new gold export policy that requires all gold produced in the country to be refined and certified domestically before it can be shipped to international markets. The measure immediately halts exports of unprocessed gold and places domestic refining at the centre of the country’s strategy for increasing value from its mining sector.

The policy applies to both industrial and artisanal production. Companies that continue exporting gold in its raw form face suspension of operating licenses and termination of mining agreements.

The decision comes as Guinea seeks to expand downstream processing within its mining industry. The country is already the world’s largest producer of bauxite and has spent recent years pushing for greater in-country processing of mineral resources rather than relying on overseas facilities.

Nimba Gold Refinery Set to Handle Exports

Authorities plan to route gold through the Nimba Gold Refinery, which is under development in the Gbessia district of Conakry. The facility is expected to become the main refining centre for gold destined for export markets.

The refinery has a reported annual processing capacity of 250 tonnes. Based on currently available production figures, that capacity would be sufficient to process Guinea’s present gold output.

The new requirement means that refining, certification, and export preparation will take place in Guinea rather than in foreign refining hubs. For years, gold produced in the country was commonly shipped abroad for processing before reaching international buyers.

Significant Volumes Affected

Gold production in Guinea comes from a combination of industrial mines and semi-industrial operations, as well as a large artisanal mining sector.

Data from the Ministry of Mines and Geology show that industrial producers exported 19,946 kilograms of gold in 2025, while artisanal producers accounted for 49,609 kilograms during the same period. Earlier ministry figures recorded combined gold exports of 22,142 kilograms during the first quarter of the year.

Among the industrial operators active in Guinea is Société Aurifère de Guinée, a subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti. Alongside large-scale producers, hundreds of artisanal miners contribute to national output.

Guinea also serves as a transit point for part of the gold originating in neighbouring West African countries, adding another layer of complexity to regional trading flows.

According to the World Gold Council, Guinea ranks as Africa’s sixth-largest gold producer. The country also holds the second-largest gold reserves in West Africa.

Part of a Broader Resource Processing Strategy

The gold export policy follows a series of initiatives aimed at increasing domestic processing across Guinea’s mining sector.

Since 2022, the government has pressed bauxite producers to advance alumina refinery projects within the country. Similar objectives have been incorporated into plans for the Simandou iron ore development, where authorities have examined options including steel production and pelletizing facilities.

The latest gold measure places Guinea among a growing group of African countries seeking greater participation in mineral value chains. Mali began construction of a gold refinery near Bamako in 2025, while Burkina Faso and Niger are advancing their own refinery projects. Ghana already hosts multiple gold refineries and has set goals to increase local processing. Côte d’Ivoire has also announced plans to develop refining capacity.

Implementation Questions Remain

Although the policy direction has been established, several operational details have yet to be published. Mining companies and gold traders are awaiting clarification on enforcement timelines, reporting requirements, treatment of artisanal production and procedures for moving material through the Nimba refinery.

Those details will determine how quickly Guinea can transition from exporting unprocessed gold to a system in which all production undergoes refining and certification before leaving the country.