From Mine to Refinery: The Journey of African Gold
African gold reaches global refineries through a structured sequence that transforms locally sourced material into internationally bankable assets. This journey demands regulatory compliance at every stage—without which shipments face rejection regardless of purity. Understanding this workflow reveals how professional exporters deliver documented supply to demanding markets.
Licensed Acquisition at Source
The journey begins exclusively with miners holding valid licenses from national authorities: Ghana’s Minerals Commission, South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources, or South Sudan’s Ministry of Mining. Exporters conduct on-site verification, recording GPS coordinates and confirming license validity before acquisition. Unlicensed material is excluded from formal trade channels.
Chain of Custody Establishment
Each batch receives a unique reference number linked to source documentation. Material is weighed, photographed, and sealed in tamper-evident containers with serialized seals. This initial documentation establishes the chain of custody required for subsequent export steps—any break invalidates legal export status.
Accredited Assay Certification
Gold moves to nationally accredited laboratories for fire assay certification. Ghana requires PMMC-approved facilities; South Africa mandates SABS-registered labs. The certificate details precise weight, fineness, and batch identifier. XRF readings alone cannot substitute for accredited fire assay in export documentation.
Government Export Approval
National authorities physically inspect material against assay certificates before issuing permits. Ghana’s PMMC, South Africa’s SADPMR with SARS endorsement, and South Sudan’s dual ministry system each conduct side-by-side verification. Only after this checkpoint is gold cleared for air freight.
Secure Air Freight Execution
Cleared shipments travel via commercial air freight on established corridors: Accra to New York, Johannesburg to Shanghai, Juba to Dubai. Gold moves in insured containers with detailed air waybills listing seal numbers. Upon arrival, refineries inspect seal integrity and verify documentation before acceptance.
Image: Gold containers loaded into aircraft cargo hold under supervision
AFRICA GOLD’s Integrated Management
Since 2015, AFRICA GOLD has managed this complete sequence across Ghana, South Africa, and South Sudan from its South African headquarters, with coordination support from the United Kingdom. Field teams conduct on-site verification, coordinate accredited assays, secure permits directly, and oversee airport handover—ensuring unbroken chain of custody for every consignment destined for buyers in the UAE, United States, China, and Europe.
Reliable gold supply depends on meticulous execution at each journey stage. Partner with an exporter who controls the entire workflow—from licensed miner verification through international refinery delivery.
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