Kian Smith

West Africa’s gold market is witnessing significant policy and structural shifts as governments seek greater control over production, licensing, and value capture. In Mali, authorities have extended Barrick Mining Corporation’s mining permit at the Loulo-Gounkoto complex by another decade. Meanwhile in Ghana, the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has suspended selected categories of gold buying license applications with immediate effect, and back home in Nigeria, NGX-listed Japaul Gold and Ventures Plc. is test running its gold processing plant in Niger state as the company transitions into active mining and processing.

Our Vice-Chairman joined CNBC Africa to unpack what these moves mean for the region.

Watch here: https://lnkd.in/d7snfdkw or via link in bio

; This year’s Investing in African started with strong winds that capitulated into rain and flash floods. It was befitting of what followed.

CEO of , Samaila Zubairu unveiled a bold and unprecedented compendium of Africa’s strategic minerals to bring a course correction towards how Africa’s mineral wealth is developed and transformed to support the continent’s industrialization and economic transformation. Ivanhoe Mines founder Robert Friedland later declared, “This is the beginning of the era for Africa.”

This continent is really going to determine the fate of the evolution of all human enterprises’. The theme of the 2026 Mining Indaba ‘Stronger together: Progress Through Partnership,’ was demonstrated in the fireside discussion with Ruth Crowell CEO of the London Bullion Mines Association, and Dean Subramanian (CA) SA CEO Rand Refinery Limited, titled ‘Stronger together in gold: Building Africa’s responsible refining partnerships.’ Professor Jeffrey Sachs recently said ‘Africa’s time has come and this time it can’t be stopped’. Gold is no longer governed by a single centre of gravity. This fireside brought together the custodians of global gold standards and legacy refining institutions to examine how credibility is defined, how trust is transferred.

Strong partnerships and collaborations of ‘Africa’ within and with global institutions are critical for the continent’s industrialization and economic transformation. The Mining Indaba winds announced the message and time for Africa.

- Our Vice-Chairman: Nere Emiko shares her thoughts on Gold Alchemy during the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba 2026 Cc (AGC).

Join us as we present the AGC’s role in shaping the next phase of the Africa’s gold value chain development.

We look forward to your attendance!
gold goldvaluechain goldmarket africa

Join our Vice-Chairman: Nere Emiko and the Associate Sponsor of the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba 2026 the (AGC) at the the launch session taking place during :

The Africa Gold Council: Championing Africa’s Gold Future
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
9am-11am
Red Sea Stage, Level 1, CTICC 1

Join us as we present the AGC’s role in shaping the next phase of the Africa’s gold value chain development.

We look forward to your attendance!
goldmarket africa asgm

. 1KG (and more) LBMA Bars supplied by Kian Smith are now listed on the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange ()

With gold prices at record level highs, Africa - especially Nigeria - is making great strides to integrate gold into the economy as a gold-backed instrument with increasing acceptance of gold as an alternative asset class.

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has recently revised its regulations to allow Nigerian pension funds to invest in gold-backed securities.

We are proud to announce that The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the listing of Kian Smith Company FZE supply of 1kg LBMA Gold Bars on the Lagos Commodity and Futures Exchange (LCFE)

Catch our Vice-president Nere Emiko on Television as she shares on Nigeria’s gold sector.

Date: Wednesday 3rd December, 2025

Time: 10am WAT

Link: https://www.youtube.com/-NG

; It was a pleasure and honor to have our Vice President speaking at the 2025 DPMC conference earlier this week on the panel ‘Market Outlook - Trade Flows, Tokenisation and Tariffs’ with Michael DiRienzo, President & CEO The Silver Institute, Dr. Fahmi Iskander, Chief Investment Officer, O Gold, Andrew Naylor, Head of Middle East and Public Policy World Gold Council and Mohammad Ayyob, General Manager, SAM Precious Metal - moderated by the GoldFather Jeffery Rhodes, Chief Executive Officer, Goldstrom Advisory.

Africa’s early entrance into tokenized and fractional gold was birthed out of necessity: the demands of the retail market hidden in plain sight. The recent participation by commercial institutions has been a solution around tariffs and barriers for African financial institutions’ accessing of LBMA gold. Africa has been on the frontier of embracing digital banking and financial innovations for financial inclusion. It has continued this trajectory by embracing the future of tokenized gold.

Africa attributes for about 30% of the global gold production and its Central Banks have begun growing their gold reserves through national gold buying programs. With the growth of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aimed at boosting intra-African trade by eliminating tariffs and non-tariff barriers, it is critical for Africa to be a part of the global conversation about the future of precious metals.

We especially want to appreciate Sudheesh Nambiath and the DPMC for recognizing the importance of highlighting Africa’s accomplishments in tokenization and encouraging before it had wider adoption to exhibit at the 2022 DPMC. We look forward to closer engagements with the DMCC and the UAE on gold innovation.

We’re thrilled to introduce AltCoin from AltBank, now live on SANU! This new offering brings you a robust and secure way to access gold. Experience 'More Gold' with us today!

Check it out here: https://wix.to/w5C5XTE

“We export raw and import finished wealth,” Mudassir Amray stated, urging governments and investors to prioritise domestic refining and market integration.

He also commended the efforts of Kian Smith Gold Refinery for its contributions toward boosting local value capture and industrial growth, describing such initiatives as crucial to achieving “financial sovereignty for Africa”.

Read the rest via link in bio.

Our Vice Chairman, Nere Emiko, says Africa stands before a new window in the commodity cycle noting this could redefine the continent’s position in the global gold market.

In a chat with CNBC Africa’s Kenneth Igbomor at the Gold Road Show Africa, she notes collaboration across the continent is key to maximum value from the gold market while highlighting the need to address policies around taxation and duties.

Watch via link in bio.

The Gold Roadshow Africa is a strategic high-level engagement event focused on knowledge sharing on developments, innovations and integration of the gold value chain for Africa’s financial markets, banking system & economies with our friends from and Core International.

Also, the team from will be in the building.

Download the brochure and register via link in bio.

Gold all the way!