Edward Bickham
Senior Adviser World Gold CouncilUnderstanding ASGM: A Vital Segment of the Gold Sector
ASGM is characterized by low capital intensity and high labor intensity, and it accounts for approximately 20% of global gold supply and supports some 20 million occupations. ASGM is a critical livelihood across rural communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, yet about 85% of it operates outside formal regulatory frameworks, making it vulnerable to exploitation by criminal gangs and liable to cause environmental degradation. As the gold price has increased significantly over the last few years, this has become even more of a pressing issue.
