Guinea has announced a sweeping overhaul of its mining policy, decreeing that all gold produced within its borders must now be refined, certified, and processed locally before any export can take place.

The major policy shift, announced by President Mamady Doumbouya, completely bans the export of raw, unrefined gold. Instead, all processing operations will be centralised at the upcoming Nimba Gold Refinery currently under construction in the capital, Conakry.

Guinean government states that the initiative is designed to retain value from its mineral resources and boost domestic economic benefits, aligning the country with a growing resource-nationalism trend seen across several West African states.

Angolan academic and university lecturer Dr Joveth de Sousa notes that while the move represents a significant step towards economic independence, the true test will lie in the government’s ability to manage infrastructure demands and prevent smuggling across porous regional borders.

–ChannelAfrica–