The government of Guinea is seeking to shift from exporting raw gold for refining abroad to refining it locally, in an effort to capture more economic value and control the flow of the precious metal. This change aims to prevent the loss of revenue that occurs when gold is sent overseas for processing before being sold. However, the exact conditions under which industrial mines can continue exporting gold under this new system have not yet been fully defined. In the third quarter of 2026, shortly before the planned opening of a national gold refinery, PDI Gold reported a significant increase in gold sales from its Kiniero mine. The company sold 61,149 ounces of gold during this period, compared to 38,470 ounces in the previous quarter, a 59% rise. This increase comes after the government in Conakry announced in June that all gold producers must refine their gold within the country before exporting it, instead of sending it to foreign refineries. The deadline for compliance with this rule was set to expire on October 6, according to PDI's schedule. Despite the rise in sales, the amount of gold actually produced at Kiniero decreased by 16% compared to the previous quarter. The company attributed the sales increase to the conversion of gold stockpiled at the end of June into cash, following disruptions caused by the reform announced earlier this year by President Mamadi Doumbouya. Earlier reports from PDI indicated that exports had been temporarily halted during the development of the new regulatory framework but had since resumed in July, with minimal disruption to mining and processing activities. For the Guinean government, the goal is to retain more value within the country and maintain control over its gold exports. Authorities expect the Nimba Gold Refinery to become fully operational by the end of the year. However, the success of the local refining requirement will depend on whether the refinery can meet the quality and certification standards required by international markets. Specific details about how the refinery will work with the country's industrial mines—such as tariffs, processing timelines, and guarantees for producers—remain to be determined. The real challenge will be managing the transition to local refining while ensuring continued access to international markets and uninterrupted sales.