Three gold bars weighing 2.60 kg left Madagascar “legally” on Saturday. These bars passed through the one-stop shop located in Ivato, which has resumed operations after several months of suspension. According to the Ministry of Mines, these bars were exported by two companies holding gold trading licenses.
Suspended in 2020, then reauthorized in 2024, legal gold exports had been suspended again as the decision failed to curb clandestine exports of the precious metal. Nevertheless, ending illicit trafficking remains the authorities’ primary objective in reopening the legal export circuit.
Minister of Mines Carl Andriamparany announced in a ministry video that “more rigorous control measures” would be implemented alongside “more flexible export procedures.” “Now that the one-stop shop is open, there is no reason to use clandestine channels,” the minister stated. “The one-stop shop facilitates the process. It is simpler and more secure when gold passes through this channel,” he assured.
Despite procedures intended to be “more transparent and faster,” the ministry mentioned requirements that exporters must adhere to. In addition to holding a trading license, they must commit to selling an equivalent weight of gold to the Central Bank of Madagascar, among other obligations. A clear set of specifications outlines the commitments they must fulfill, the minister recalled.
To ensure the transparency and legality of the gold leaving Madagascar, several services are gathered at the Ivato one-stop shop. In addition to the mining administration, the Madagascar Gold Center, the mining laboratory, the Treasury, Customs, and the National Anti-Fraud Agency (Anaf) are also present. The mining laboratory verifies the weight and quality of the gold and marks it for identification. Gold intended for export must be presented in the form of bars.
A cross-check is also performed at the airport before boarding. “It must be in the form of a bar,” specified Carl Andriamparany. The gold is then accompanied by Customs officials to the airport, where a final check is conducted.
Minister Carl Andriamparany also noted that exported gold should ideally be refined, but until the national refinery is in place, a trading license is sufficient for export. According to the minister, the gold currently exported generally has a purity between “96% and 97%, whereas refining would allow it to reach nearly 99.99%.” He emphasized that the establishment of this infrastructure should allow for more value-added to be retained in Madagascar before export or deposit with the Central Bank.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-20 08:53:34 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.2424.mg/mines-lexportation-legale-de-lor-reprend-de-nouveau-officiellement-avec-260-kg-enregistres-au-guichet-unique/
