- 142 business connections between 116 industrial gold mines and 16 refineries between 2015-2023
- For the refining of over 450 tonnes of African industrial gold
- The report reveals the opacity of most refineries on their sources of supply
“Out of the shadows and into the light. Business relations between industrial gold mines in Africa and refineries”, is a report produced by SWISSAID and published in March 2023.
The report documents or reveals almost all the business relationships that exist or have existed in recent years (2015-2023) between African industrial gold mines and gold refineries. It highlights 142 business relationships between 116 industrial gold mines and 16 refineries. It details the relationships between these companies involved in the mining and refining of more than 450 tonnes of African industrial gold, worth more than CHF 23 billion (figure for the year 2020).
The research shows that the lack of transparency that most refineries maintain about their sources of supply has more to do with human rights and environmental problems at the mines than with business secrecy. In the framework of this research, we have identified serious problems in the majority of the 125 industrial mines listed. These cases were identified in part through the excellent work of African civil society organisations or African journalists. Transparency in the business relationship between mining companies and refineries is essential as it increases the accountability of the gold sector and encourages them to take the necessary measures to address these problems.
When a mining company refuses to take the necessary steps to remedy the problems at its mine, highlighting the supply chain, particularly the refinery partner, can be an important element of pressure for corrective action to be taken. We hope that some of the results of this study can be used in some of your advocacy activities. This new report on the African industrial gold trade is available on this website: https://swissaid.kinsta.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-02-SWISSAID-Goldstudie_FR_final_web.pdf
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