Sierra Leone gold & diamond export procedures

All exporters must make a 24-hour appointment at PMT before export begins.

Valuation starts by receiving the rough diamonds from a licensed exporter; the goods are weighed to confirm the weight brought in.

The goods are sized per the schedule B sizes and shared among valuers for sorting and valuation. A consultant from Diamond Counsellor International (DCI) sorts and values in parallel as a counter-valuation for transparency. Each size's weight is entered in the worksheet and signed by the exporter.

After valuation by PMT, DCI and the exporter's declared value, the prices are computerised. The highest of the three prices is recorded as the final value on schedule B and the Kimberley certificate.

The diamonds are re-weighed before the exporter and Mines Monitoring Officer and placed in a wooden box. The box shows the signatories (Director/Manager, Mines Monitoring Officer, Customs Officer), consignee address, random number, parcel number, parcel code, weight and dimensions.

Before the Kimberley certificate is prepared, the exporter produces the inflow (bank statement) as supporting documentation.

The inflow is used to prepare the declaration form; the valuation price is subtracted from the foreign-currency amount deposited. The inflow should cover the total value of the goods.

The exporter uses a copy of schedule B to pay the 3.03% export duty to the central bank, then brings the paid slip to the Trading & Auditing department where a PMT receipt is prepared.

Documents are taken to the NMA for vetting and then to the Ministry of Mines for signatures: perusal form, valid diamond export licence, signed Kimberley certificate, schedule B (plus copy), comparative valuation analysis sheet (plus copy), declaration form, inflow/bank statement, and the export-duty receipt.