The Central Bank of Madagascar has outlined plans to establish gold collection points in Ambilobe, Maevatanana, Mananjary and Miandrivazo as part of its broader effort to integrate monetary gold into foreign exchange reserves. The points will give miners access to formal collection channels while strengthening traceability and controls over gold quality and purity under applicable standards. The initiative builds on two partnership agreements signed in April. The first supports the planetGOLD Madagascar project to eliminate mercury use in artisanal gold mining, while the second seeks to turn corporate social responsibility commitments into measurable environmental and social practices. The central bank also plans to support the formalization and financial inclusion of artisanal miners by facilitating access to banking services, mercury-free technology financing, guarantee mechanisms and tailored financial products. It will promote financial education, encourage banking providers to operate in mining areas and help monitor the economic and social effects of formalization in a sector that directly employs about 600,000 people.
Central Bank of Madagascar plans regional gold collection points to formalize supply and strengthen traceability
The Central Bank of Madagascar plans gold collection points in four mining regions to expand formal supply channels and strengthen traceability, quality and purity controls. The initiative also supports mercury-free artisanal mining and improved access to banking, financing and guarantee mechanisms for miners. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining directly employs about 600,000 people in Madagascar.