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Gold sourcing company SigraFi has signed an agreement with PeaceGold to establish a long-term artisanal supply and capital partnership in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The deal creates a commercial framework for SigraFi to provide structured working capital and logistics support.
In return, the firm will receive a contracted supply of traceable gold doré from cooperative-based producers in Ituri Province for delivery to international refineries.
The project builds on work by PeaceGold to formalise artisanal production in the eastern region of the country.
PeaceGold has worked with local mining communities since 2013 alongside charity Peace Direct and Centre Résolution Conflits to reduce mercury usage and legalise export pathways.
Artisanal and small-scale mining currently generates 20% of global gold output compared with 4% in the 1990s.
The sector is worth an estimated £64bn annually and supports the livelihoods of more than 15m people globally.
Zara Shirwan, SigraFi strategy director, said: “This partnership demonstrates the power of SigraFi’s model to unlock gold responsibly from small-scale gold producers and deliver it into the international gold supply chain, with all the benefits that provides.
“Everyone knows the potential within the artisanal and small-scale gold sector, but producers are often constrained by limited access to compliant export channels, refinery relationships, and appropriately structured financing, and that’s where we come in. We facilitate responsible operators to participate more effectively in the international gold market through long-term commercial partnerships.”
Greg Valerio, PeaceGold founder, added: “PeaceGold is the holy grail of responsible sourcing, demonstrating in action that the integration of peace-building and conflict resolution are not optional add-ons but the fundamental foundation of transformative supply chains. We work with extraordinarily resilient, professional and dedicated cooperatives and communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, people who are willing to do it right yet are consistently denied the opportunity.
“By making capital available to community-based operations in fragile economies, SigraFi is leading the way in returning value back into the hands of the communities that create it. This is what makes them a great financial partner, their vision of a better future transcends the hurdles that many others would stop at; they’re committed to working around challenges on the ground. Together, we’re redefining what responsible gold sourcing looks like.”
