Building Nigeria’s First Gold Refinery: A Vision for Africa’s Future

We are excited to share that Kian Smith Trade & Co. has been featured in Mining Indaba in an exclusive interview with our Managing Director, Nere Emiko. The article dives into our journey to build Nigeria’s first gold refinery, a transformative project that goes beyond infrastructure — it’s a step toward reshaping the future of Africa’s mining sector.

The refinery is not just a milestone for Kian Smith, but for Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Establishing a world-class gold refinery in Nigeria is about empowering local value addition, creating sustainable economic opportunities, and positioning Africa as a key player in the global mining value chain. This initiative aligns with our vision of transforming Africa's mining landscape and advancing the continent’s role in responsible, ethical gold refining.

In the interview, Nere Emiko discusses several important topics:

• Why downstream beneficiation is essential for Africa’s mining future: The full potential of Africa's natural resources can only be realized by processing and refining locally, which creates jobs, stimulates economies, and ensures that the wealth generated stays within the continent.

• The challenges and triumphs of building a refinery from the ground up: From navigating complex regulatory landscapes to overcoming logistical hurdles, this journey has been a lesson in resilience and determination.

• Our vision for a more integrated, transparent, and prosperous gold value chain: By connecting miners with refineries and markets, we can create a more sustainable and equitable mining ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders.

  
  

As part of our broader mission to transform the mining sector, we also launched SANU — a digital platform that enables users to buy, hold, and redeem tokenized gold and silver, backed by physical bullion. SANU is designed to democratize access to precious metals, allowing everyday people to engage with gold and silver in a secure, transparent, and convenient way.

This is just one of the ways we are working to make gold more accessible, particularly in Africa, where we see a tremendous opportunity to bring digital innovation into the world of precious metals.

To read the full story and learn more about our journey, click the link below:👉 Read the full interview on Mining Indaba