Key Recommendations

Key Recommendation 1: LBMA should engage with its GDL members to establish in more detail what they are or should be looking for from regulatory regimes for ASGM, and then engage with governments, civil society and other stakeholders in ASGM producing countries to seek to secure the reforms required to achieve these regimes. This task may be more effective if conducted in conjunction with donor governments and/or the UN funded programme PlanetGold.

Key Recommendation 2: LBMA should explore collaboration with the WGC and other stakeholders to clarify the necessary and desirable regulatory conditions to encourage ASM/LSM co-operation, including in the production of responsibly mined ASM gold. This would in turn encourage GDL sourcing of ASM gold.

Key Recommendation 3: LBMA should encourage GDL refiners to develop long-term relationships with these processors and intermediate refiners, which would ideally include joint efforts to raise standards among ASM suppliers.

Key Recommendation 4: LBMA should encourage GDL refiners to explore sourcing ASM gold from intermediate refiners on the RMI’s RMAP conformance list.

Key Recommendation 5: LBMA and its members, in conjunction with other stakeholders where appropriate, should define the criteria and requirements that would enable GDL refiners to source artisanal gold from processors and intermediate refiners. These criteria should be consistent with the RMI’s RMAP auditing requirements. Those that meet these requirements should form part of a new GDL for processors and intermediate refiners.

Key Recommendation 6: LBMA should take a lead in exploring how it and its members can begin to move beyond the current largely compliance-based approach to ASGM engagement, towards a shared commitment to progressive improvement via mentoring and other partnerships, such as are envisaged in the OECD Responsible Minerals guidance. This should include revisiting the language and approach of the Responsible Gold Guidance (RGG).