List of Gold Refineries in Africa [2025] | Trusted Refineries & Expert Support

List of Gold Refineries in Africa, Africa’s gold refining sector rapidly expands, offering buyers, traders, and investors access to high-purity gold through licensed, professional refineries. From the world-renowned Rand Refinery in South Africa to growing facilities in Ghana, Uganda, and Tanzania, the continent is home to trusted processors ready to handle gold dore, bullion, and more. Whether you’re looking to refine, assay, or export gold, Gold Buyers Africa is your trusted partner offering expert guidance, compliance support, and direct connections to verified gold refineries across Africa. With a network of professionals operating in key gold-producing regions, we simplify the process and ensure your transactions are safe, transparent, and profitable. List of Gold Refineries in Africa

In this article, we highlight the top 10 gold refineries in Africa and explain five key factors to consider when selecting one.

Top 10 List of Gold Refineries in Africa (2025)

1. Rand Refinery – South Africa

It’s located in Germiston, Rand Refinery is Africa’s largest and one of the world’s most respected gold refineries, and it was established in 1920. and it refines over 78% of Africa’s gold output.

2. Uganda Refinery Company – Uganda

Rapidly growing, this Kampala-based refinery specializes in refining gold to 99.99% purity and is key in the East African gold trade.

3. Accra Gold Refinery – Ghana

It is found in Ghana’s capital, and this facility serves a wide range of West African clients and complies with international LBMA standards.

4. Sudan Gold Refinery – Khartoum, Sudan

It’s one of the largest in North-East Africa, and it was established by the government to process domestic gold and reduce raw gold exports.

5. Kalgold Refinery – Tanzania

Tanzania’s being one of the gold-booming countries it has elevated Kalgold as a key regional player in refining, processing gold from artisanal and small-scale miners. List of Gold Refineries in Africa

6. M&C Refinery – South Africa

It’s a private gold refinery focused on ethical sourcing and sustainable gold production, and with growing global partnerships.

7. Kenya Gold Refinery Ltd – Nairobi, Kenya

It offers state-of-the-art refining technology and supports gold from legal mining operations across East Africa.

8. Sahara Gold Refinery – Mali

It’s located near key mining hubs, and the Sahara Gold Refinery is integral in the supply chain of West African gold.

9. Zambia Gold Company Ltd – Lusaka, Zambia

It’s a government-owned entity, and Zambia Gold focuses on refining gold from the country’s rich copperbelt and artisanal miners.

10. DRC Gold Refinery – Kinshasa, DRC

This emerging refinery is gaining attention for its push toward transparency and formalization of Congo’s gold supply chain. List of Gold Refineries in Africa

Things to Consider When Choosing a Gold Refinery in Africa

1. Refining Capacity & Technology

Always ensure the refinery can process the volume and purity level you require and has modern equipment’s which leads to faster turnaround times and higher gold yield.

2. Certifications and Compliance

Always look for refineries certified by institutions like the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) or those that follow OECD Due Diligence Guidelines for responsible sourcing.

3. Reputation and Transparency

A good refinery should have a track record of honesty, ethical sourcing, and fair trading practices. Always check reviews, partners, and regulatory records.

4. Location & Accessibility

Choose a refinery close to your mining site or export hub to save time and reduce logistics costs. Accessibility also helps with regular monitoring of your shipments.

5 Refining Fees and Payment Terms

Always understand their fee structure, turnaround time, and payment terms, and it offers faster payouts but at higher fees, while others may provide better long-term partnerships.

 Key challenges facing gold refineries in Africa today:

1. Limited Access to Consistent Raw Supply

Many African refineries struggle with irregular and insufficient supplies of gold dore (unrefined gold), often due to informal mining practices, smuggling, and weak supply chain structures, which limit production capacity and profitability.

2. Regulatory and Compliance Pressures

The Increasing world scrutiny on gold sourcing, particularly regarding conflict-free and environmentally responsible mining, forces refineries to meet strict due diligence, traceability, and certification standards, which can be costly and complex to implement.

3. High Operational and Infrastructure Costs

The energy instability is outdated refining technology, and poor transport infrastructure increases operational costs for African refineries, and these costs make it difficult to compete with more advanced refineries in regions like Europe or the Middle East.

4. Lack of Skilled Workforce and Technical Expertise

A shortage of trained professionals in metallurgy, chemical engineering, and quality control hampers the efficiency and scalability of refinery operations, and many facilities depend on foreign experts, raising operational costs further.

 Investment opportunities in Africa’s gold refining sector:

1. Development of Regional Refinery Hubs

Investing in strategically located, modern gold refineries near major mining regions (like West Africa or East Africa) can tap into abundant gold resources and reduce reliance on foreign refineries and hubs can also serve neighboring countries lacking processing capacity. List of Gold Refineries in Africa

2. Technology and Equipment Supply

Providing advanced refining equipment, automation systems, and environmentally friendly technologies is a lucrative niche, and many African refineries need upgrades to meet international purity and compliance standards, creating demand for tech-driven solutions.

3. Gold Supply Chain & Traceability Solutions

There’s a growing demand for digital platforms and blockchain-based systems that track gold from mine to market, and investing in traceability solutions that ensure ethical sourcing can help refineries meet global compliance requirements and attract international clients.

4. Training and Capacity Building

Establishing training centers or offering consultancy services to develop local talent in metallurgy, quality control, and refinery management is both impactful and profitable. These services can be offered in partnership with refineries, governments, or mining associations.

Gold Refineries in Ghana

1. Gold Coast Refinery Ltd

It’s located in Accra, Ghana, and it was the First state-of-the-art gold refinery in West Africa, providing gold assaying, Refining of gold to 99.99% purity (LBMA standard), Smelting & melting, secure storage and vaulting, and Bullion minting & branding. Check their Website: www.goldcoastrefinery.com

2. Sahara Royal Gold Refinery (SRGR)

It’s located in Tema, Ghana, and it is privately owned with a modern refining facility that provides gold refining up to 99.99% purity, melting and assaying, Export documentation support, and providing secure transportation. Always check the Website: www.sahararoyalrefinery.com

3. AsanSka Precious Metals Ltd

It’s located in Accra, Ghana, and it is a licensed refinery and gold trading company providing Refining and smelting, Gold assaying, Trading and export services, and secure storage. always check their Website: www.asanskagold.com. List of Gold Refineries in Africa

4. GREL Refinery Services (by PMMC partnership)

It is located in Accra and it operates in partnership with the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), providing gold testing and refining, quality assurance for export, and assaying laboratory services and Always check their Website: www.pmmc.gov.gh

5. Blaze Metals Resources Ltd

It’s located in Tarkwa, Western Region, and it is a Mid-scale refinery near mining zones and providing gold dore refining, Melting and assaying, and export processing, and always check their Website or (local market-oriented)

Gold Refining Industry in East Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania)

1. Gold refineries in Uganda

Uganda is a growing gold refining hub in East Africa with African Gold Refinery (AGR), Entebbe, which is one of the largest in the region, with a refining capacity of over 200 kg/day. Located in the sourcing of gold from DRC, South Sudan, and Rwanda and the government pushes to formalize the gold trade through licensing and monitoring. List of Gold Refineries in Africa

Challenges:

• Their lot of smuggling and weak traceability measures
• International pressure for better compliance with OECD guidelines

2. Gold refineries in Kenya

It’s a major player in the regional gold refining space with well-established a well-established government-backed gold refinery in Kakamega, Western Kenya, having small-scale private smelting and assaying operations

Opportunities:

• Growing artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector
• Potential for regional gold export processing and certification

Challenges:

• Fragmented gold supply chain and unregulated artisanal mining
• Limited infrastructure and refining capacity

3. Gold refineries in Tanzania

They have a well-established gold refining and production ecosystem with Geita Gold Refinery (GGR), which was officially launched in 2021 with a capacity of 440 kg/day, and it serves some African countries and other smaller refiners. List of Gold Refineries in Africa

Government Involvement:

• It has a Strong regulatory framework under the Mining Commission
• Mandatory refining of domestically mined gold before export

Strengths:

• Large-scale mining output
• Government support through local content policies

Challenges:

• High royalty rates (6%)
• Need for continuous technology upgrades and skilled labor

Regional Outlook & Trends

• Increased Demand for Local Value Addition: Governments are encouraging local refining to boost revenue, employment, and control over exports.
• Regulatory Tightening: Countries are adopting stricter gold traceability, refining licensing, and export documentation requirements.
• Growing Private Sector Investment: New private refineries and public-private partnerships are emerging across the region.LBMA-Certified Gold Refineries in Africa: Who’s Approved?

 LBMA-certified Gold Refineries in Africa

1. Rand Refinery (South Africa)

It’s located in Germiston, South Africa, and they have been LBMA Good Delivery Accredited since 1921, and it’s one of the largest integrated single-site precious metals refineries worldwide, providing

• Refining to 99.99% purity
• Minting gold bars and coins
• Secure storage and logistics, and Bullion and doré refining

Rand Refinery is the only LBMA-certified refinery in Africa, which makes it the continent’s most trusted processor for international gold trade. List of Gold Refineries in Africa

Why Other African Refineries Are Not Yet LBMA-Certified:

• Strict Certification Requirements: LBMA demands consistent product quality, ethical sourcing (OECD compliance), anti-money laundering policies, and financial audits.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Many African refineries lack the technological and compliance frameworks required.
• Newness of Operations: Several refineries (like in Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana) are relatively new and still working toward full compliance and recognition.

Notable Non-LBMA African Refineries Seeking Recognition:

• Gold Coast Refinery (Ghana) – West Africa’s leading refinery aiming for LBMA status.
• Geita Gold Refinery (Tanzania) – Government-backed with growing credibility.
• African Gold Refinery (Uganda) – Large-scale capacity but under scrutiny for sourcing practices. List of Gold Refineries in Africa

How to Choose a Gold Refinery in Africa: Key Tips

1. Verify Licensing and Regulatory Compliance

Always ensure the refinery is fully licensed by the relevant government authority ( like the DGSM in Uganda, Minerals Commission in Ghana, Mining Commission in Tanzania).

• Why it matters: Working with unlicensed refiners can lead to legal issues and difficulties with customs or export permits.

2. Assess Refining Capacity and Technology

Evaluate the refinery’s daily processing capacity, equipment quality, and ability to refine gold to 99.99% purity (LBMA-standard).

• Why it matters: High-capacity, modern refineries ensure quicker turnaround and higher purity for better market value.

3. Request Assay and Certification Transparency

Alway choose a refinery that offers independent and verifiable assay reports and adheres to international testing standards because accurate assaying prevents losses due to under-reporting gold content.

4. Consider Security and Logistics Support

Look for refineries that provide secure transportation, on-site vaulting, and reliable export documentation services because secure handling minimizes the risk of theft or loss during transit. List of Gold Refineries in Africa

5. Review Reputation and Track Record

Make research on the refinery’s background, customer reviews, and past partnerships. Prefer refineries that work with banks, government agencies, or international buyers because a strong track record increases trust and ensures professional service.

Gold Refinery Licensing & Regulations by Country in Africa

1. Uganda

• Regulator: Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines (DGSM), under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
• Licensing Requirement: Refinery operators must obtain a Mineral Dealer’s License and a Refinery License.

Key Regulations:

• Must declare all imported/exported gold.
• Subject to due diligence and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) compliance.
• Monthly reporting to DGSM on gold volumes processed and traded.

2. Ghana

• Regulator: Minerals Commission of Ghana.
• Licensing Requirement: Must be licensed as a Precious Minerals Refinery.

Key Regulations:

• Adherence to the Precious Minerals Marketing Corporation (PMMC) standards.
• Subject to local content laws requiring a percentage of local ownership or labor.
• Must comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703). List of Gold Refineries in Africa

3. Tanzania

• Regulator: Ministry of Minerals, through the Mining Commission.
• Licensing Requirement: Must acquire a Refinery License under the Mining Act.

Key Regulations:

• Mandatory government royalty of 6% on refined gold.
• The government may hold shares in strategic refining projects.
• Requires a local partnership or majority local ownership for approval.

5   South Africa

• Regulator: South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator (SADPMR).
• Licensing Requirement: Refiners must hold a Precious Metals Refining License.

Key Regulations:

• Subject to the Precious Metals Act, 2005.
• Compliance with BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) policies is mandatory.
• Annual audits and inspections are required.

5. Zimbabwe

• Regulator: Fidelity Gold Refinery (a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe).
• Licensing Requirement: Private gold refining is heavily restricted. Fidelity has a monopoly on official refining. List of Gold Refineries in Africa

 Key Regulations:

• All gold must be sold to Fidelity or authorized agents.
• Independent refining is subject to government approval and stringent oversight.

6. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

• Regulator: Ministry of Mines & Centre d’Expertise, d’Évaluation et de Certification (CEEC).
• Licensing Requirement: Refining licenses issued under the Mining Code (revised in 2018).

Key Regulations:

• Mandatory traceability under OECD Due Diligence Guidelines.
• High scrutiny due to conflict minerals.
• Export permits are required for refined gold, subject to certification by CEEC. List of Gold Refineries in Africa

Conclusion

The African gold industry is booming, but to maximize value, working with a trustworthy and efficient gold refinery is critical. Whether you’re in Ghana, Uganda, South Africa, or anywhere in between, the right refinery can transform your business operations. Always consider capacity, compliance, reputation, location, and fees before making a decision.

Looking for reliable gold refineries in Africa? Visit www.goldbuyersafrica.com, your trusted partner in gold trading, refining, and investment across the continent. List of Gold Refineries in Africa