Sierra Leone gold & diamond export procedures

A 24-hour notice must be sent to the Manager or Director of PMT.

On arrival, the gold assayer verifies the gold export licence and bank statement.

Gold for export may be in the form of dust or bars.

An acid test may be done if necessary to check for fake gold (nitric acid is used).

Gold weight is taken by the Gold Consultant or an Assayer in the presence of the exporter, the Mines Monitoring Officer and the Customs Officer.

The weight is entered into a ledger and the exporter signs to confirm.

Value is computed using the specific gravity (SG) method.

The London gold fix is applied to arrive at the final value.

A 3% export duty is levied on the total value to generate the export tax.

The gold is re-weighed in the presence of the exporter, the Mines Monitoring Officer and the Customs Officer.

Immediately after re-weighing, a photograph of the gold is taken for record purposes.

Immediately after assaying, the exporter pays the export tax.

Once all parties are satisfied, the gold is placed in a wooden box, wrapped and signed by the Mines Monitoring Officer, Customs Officer and the Director/Manager of PMT.

An internal gold certificate is prepared and signed by the Director/Manager of PMT.

The documents are forwarded to the Directorate of Mines (NMA) for vetting.

The final signature on the certificate is the Minister of Mines & Mineral Resources (or a designated representative).

The signed certificate is handed to the exporter, with three copies distributed to the Mines Monitoring Office, Office of National Security and Customs at the airport.

The box of gold and a copy of the certificate are handed to the exporter for export through Freetown International Airport.