Buy Gold in Guinea Conakry Under the 2026 Rules
Guinea now requires gold to be refined locally before export. We work only with licensed buying offices and carry every export cost.
| Primary minerals | Gold, bauxite, iron ore, rough diamonds |
|---|---|
| Key gold areas | Siguiri, Kankan and Kouroussa in Upper Guinea |
| Regulator | Ministry of Mines and Geology, with the OGE and the central bank (BCRG) |
| Who may export | Licensed buying offices (Bureaux d'Achat Agréés) only |
| Key 2026 change | Raw gold export ban (June); local refining before export (October) |
| Export hub | Conakry |
Short answer
Since June 2026 Guinea bans the export of raw gold, and since October 2026 all gold must be refined in Guinea, at an approved refinery in Conakry, before it can leave. Only licensed buying offices (Bureaux d'Achat Agréés) may export, and each export is certified by the gold and diamond expertise office (OGE) and sealed in front of customs and the central bank. Any offer to ship raw doré out of Guinea is no longer lawful. Minerals Finance Team works only through licensed buying offices, finances the refining, taxes and freight, and you pay only after delivery and your final assay.
Who regulates gold in Guinea
Gold falls under the Ministry of Mines and Geology and the 2011 Mining Code (amended 2013). Three other bodies matter for every export: the OGE (Office guinéen d'expertise de l'or, des diamants et autres matières précieuses), which receives export requests and certifies origin; the central bank, BCRG, whose purchase price is the reference for artisanal gold taxes and which attends the sealing of export parcels; and Customs with the anti fraud brigade for precious materials.
Who can buy and export gold in Guinea
- Export is reserved for licensed buying offices, each opened by ministerial order. Guinean and foreign individuals or companies may own one, and since October 2026 the exporter must be a legally constituted company.
- Buying and selling inside Guinea, by collectors and intermediaries, is reserved for Guinean nationals.
- Artisanal permit holders cannot export gold themselves.
So a foreign buyer either buys from a licensed buying office or owns one. An individual seller, or a miner with an artisanal permit, cannot legally ship gold to you.
How gold is exported from Guinea in 2026
- The gold is refined or assayed at an approved refinery in Guinea, the Nimba Gold Refinery at Gbessia, Conakry.
- The exporter sends a written request to the OGE with the weight, refining certificate, smelting and analysis reports, flight details, tax registration, tax clearance and proof of lawful origin.
- The OGE certifies origin and refers the file to the BCRG and Customs.
- The gold is weighed, packed and sealed at the refinery in front of Customs, the anti fraud brigade and the BCRG. Taxes are calculated on the London fix and paid in full before export.
- Parcels are escorted to the airport and may be held in the refinery vault for no more than 15 days.
Taxes on gold in Guinea
Under the Mining Code, industrial gold pays 5% of ingot value at the London fix, and the artisanal gold export tax is set at 1% of the BCRG purchase price, a rate that can be changed by ministerial order. Following the 2026 refining rules, the applicable rates are confirmed at the OGE on each export, and we verify them before every shipment.
Where Guinea's gold comes from
Gold is concentrated in Upper Guinea. AngloGold Ashanti's Siguiri mine produced about 289,000 ounces in 2025, and the Kiniero and Bankan projects lie in the Kankan and Kouroussa areas. Artisanal output is far larger than industrial: in 2025 Guinea exported about 49.6 tonnes of artisanal gold against 19.9 tonnes of industrial gold.
Recent changes buyers must know
- May 2025: 129 exploration permits cancelled, most of them for gold.
- June 2026: raw gold export ban; exporters who continue risk licence suspension.
- July 2026: talks with miners, a transition period and a national gold traceability registry.
- October 2026: the OGE export procedure above, requiring local refining.
Diamonds in Guinea
Guinea is a Kimberley Process participant. Rough diamond exports require Kimberley Process certification, and we finance diamonds only through certified channels.
Mistakes to avoid in Guinea
- Buying raw doré for export. Since June 2026 it cannot lawfully leave Guinea unrefined.
- Buying from individuals. Only licensed buying offices may export.
- Paying taxes to the seller. Taxes are paid before export through the official procedure, never wired to a seller.
Our scam guide covers the wider pattern, including a Guinea case we stopped at due diligence in our case studies.
How we finance a gold purchase in Guinea
- You apply online at no cost and receive a reference number.
- We complete KYC on you and verify the licensed buying office and its ministerial order.
- We confirm the gold's origin documents and attend refining, assay and sealing in Conakry.
- We issue written terms, then finance refining, taxes, insurance and freight, paid directly through the official procedure.
- You receive the refined gold, run your final assay and settle. Our single success fee is due only then.
Guinea's rules changed twice in 2026. If a deal cannot meet them, we tell you before it costs you anything.
Frequently asked questions: buying gold in Guinea
Can I export raw gold from Guinea?
No. Since June 2026 Guinea bans raw gold exports, and since October 2026 gold must be refined at an approved refinery in Guinea before export.
Who can export gold from Guinea?
Only licensed buying offices (Bureaux d'Achat Agréés), opened by ministerial order. Foreign individuals or companies may own one; artisanal permit holders cannot export.
What is the OGE in Guinea?
The Office guinéen d'expertise de l'or, des diamants et autres matières précieuses. It receives gold export requests, certifies origin and refers files to the central bank and customs.
What tax applies to gold exports from Guinea?
The Mining Code sets 5% for industrial gold and 1% of the central bank purchase price for artisanal gold. Rates under the 2026 refining procedure are confirmed at the OGE on each export.
Where is gold mined in Guinea?
Mainly in Upper Guinea: Siguiri, Kankan and Kouroussa, including AngloGold Ashanti's Siguiri mine and the Kiniero and Bankan projects.
Do I pay anything upfront through MFT?
No. We finance refining, taxes, insurance and freight on verified deals. You pay one success fee only after delivery and your final assay.
Other markets we finance
We finance verified gold transactions across West Africa: Sierra Leone · Ghana · Mali · Burkina Faso · Côte d'Ivoire · Liberia · Senegal. See all country guides or read our guide to avoiding gold scams.
Apply for financing in Guinea
If you have a pending or planned gold purchase in Guinea, submit it through our buyer application. We review it within 2 business days against the 2026 rules and, if it passes due diligence, carry every upfront cost while you settle after delivery and final assay.
Sources and last review
Regulatory details reviewed October 2026. Rules change; we confirm current requirements on every transaction.
Buying gold in Guinea?
The 2026 rules require local refining. Apply and let us structure the deal correctly and carry the upfront costs.
Apply for Financing