Primera Gold identifies more than 25,000 artisanal Gold diggers
Traceability in artisanal gold mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is at the core of the missions assigned to the Primera Gold DRC SA joint venture.
Since its establishment in December 2022, Primera Gold DRC SA has identified more than 25,000 artisanal diggers grouped in eighteen (18) cooperatives.
“95% of direct payments are now made via Congolese banking institutions. Which is a first in the DRC and in the artisanal gold sector.
To date, this traceability allows the Congolese state to clearly identify the final consumers of dollars. Furthermore, Primera Gold DRC SA has succeeded in setting up a vertical system for supplying gold from artisanal mining.
Upstream, more than 80 validated and certified mining sites demonstrate, without ambiguity, the origin of the exported gold. More than 25,000 diggers grouped in 18 cooperatives actually work there.
Downstream in the chain, there are 250 category A and B traders, identified and legally registered, as well as 10 approved buyers who purchase on behalf of Primera Gold DRC SA.
As of September 30, 2023, Primera Gold DRC exported 3.5 tonnes of gold from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the United Arab Emirates.
According to the same source, this volume of gold made it possible to inject a total amount of 210 million dollars into the Congolese economy through artisanal gold miners.
The General Manager of Primera Gold DRC is delighted with this record never before achieved.
The performance of Primera Gold represents, it should be noted, 140 years of export of artisanal gold from the province of South Kivu and 35 years for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
