UK Firm Signs Long-Term Deal to Expand Traceable Artisanal Gold Exports from Eastern DRC
UK-Based SigraFi Partners with PeaceGold to Boost Traceable Artisanal Gold Exports from Eastern DRC
A UK-based responsible gold sourcing company has signed a long-term supply and financing agreement aimed at expanding traceable artisanal gold exports from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in a move seen as a major boost for efforts to formalise the region’s mining sector.
SigraFi Ltd announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with PeaceGold Trading Company Ltd to establish a framework for the supply of fully traceable gold doré sourced from cooperative-based artisanal miners in Ituri Province.
The agreement builds on PeaceGold’s long-running efforts to formalise artisanal gold mining in eastern Congo, where much of the sector has historically operated outside regulated international markets.
Under the arrangement, SigraFi will provide structured working capital and refinery-delivery support in exchange for contracted future gold deliveries.
The company said the financing model is designed to help mining cooperatives gain access to compliant export channels, improve pricing transparency, and strengthen links with accredited international refineries.
Financing and Market Access for Artisanal Miners
The partnership is expected to provide artisanal mining cooperatives with much-needed financial support and technical assistance, helping them transition into formal international supply chains.
Founded by Greg Valerio MBE in collaboration with peacebuilding organisations including Peace Direct and Centre Résolution Conflits, PeaceGold has spent more than a decade working with mining communities in eastern DRC to legalise operations, reduce mercury use in gold processing, and establish responsible export pathways.
The latest agreement marks an important commercial milestone for the initiative, which previously announced plans to begin formal gold exports despite persistent insecurity and armed conflict in parts of eastern Congo.
“Everyone recognises the enormous potential within the artisanal and small-scale gold sector, but producers are often constrained by limited access to compliant export channels, refinery relationships, and appropriately structured financing,” said Zara Shirwan, co-founder and director of strategy at SigraFi.
Growing Demand for Ethically Sourced Minerals
According to industry estimates, artisanal and small-scale mining accounts for approximately 20% of global gold production and supports more than 15 million livelihoods worldwide.
In the DRC alone, an estimated two million artisanal miners are involved in gold production, making the sector a critical source of employment and income for local communities.
SigraFi said the PeaceGold partnership forms part of its broader strategy to develop responsible sourcing and growth-capital partnerships with artisanal mining operations across Africa and Latin America.
The initiative comes amid rising global demand for traceable and ethically sourced minerals as manufacturers, refiners, and investors face increasing pressure to strengthen transparency and sustainability across mineral supply chains.
