Gold dealers rush to set up refineries (2024)

Encouraged by the widening gap in import duties on raw and refined gold, about 10 medium-sized gold dealers have lined up proposals to set up refineries in India’s hinterlands. Together, these proposals involve an investment of Rs 900 crore.

Earlier, the import duty on both refined and pure gold was four per cent. Refiners were, however, allowed to claim an excise drawback of up to one per cent, in case they set up refineries in the hinterland or industrially under-developed states. So, effectively, raw gold involved tax outgo of three per cent.

In January, the government raised the import duty on refined gold to six per cent and that on raw gold to five per cent.

“Domestic refineries continued to enjoy one per cent drawback, resulting in an overall tax outgo of just four per cent on raw gold imports, two per cent lower than on refined gold. This has attracted a lot of investment interest from existing and new players to set up refineries,” said James Jose, vice-president of the Association of Gold Refineries and Mint (AGRM) and managing director of Chemmanur Gold Refinery.

“About 10 proposals are awaiting the government’s approval. These have about 30 tonnes of annual accumulative capacity. Considering an average investment of Rs 30 crore for setting up a one-tonne refinery, this year, the gold refining business is set to see investments worth Rs 900 crore,” he added.

Through several years, many gold jewellers have set up their own refineries. However, owing to viability issues, they refrained from importing raw gold. These refineries continued to operate at 35-40 per cent of installed capacity, primarily through melting domestic scrap (used) jewellery. As of March 2012, India’s refining capacity was estimated at 500 tonnes, against the country’s annual gold consumption of 950 tonnes.

Domestic and foreign investors have pumped in huge investments in the gold refining business. After Budget 2012-13, when the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had announced different import duties for raw and refined gold, many investment proposals were recorded. Last year, projects with an estimated investment of about Rs 1,000 crore commenced production. Jose said MD Overseas, Khemka International, Zaveri Refineries and Bangalore Refineries commenced operations last year.

Mumbai-based NIBR Bullion, popularly called National Refinery, plans to set up refineries in remote Indian states. “We are planning to set up a mid-size refinery, the proposal for which would be ready in a month,” said Managing Director Harmesh Arora. He added some of the proposed refineries would commence production in six months.

MMTC, along with Switzerland’s PAMP gold and silver refinery, has set up a gold refinery in Haryana, which started operations recently.

Indian refineries have proposed to import raw gold, with about 95 per cent of gold content, from Peru, Australia, Russia and a number of African countries.

Jose said the government should provide quick clearances for imported raw gold containers, considering the refinery business was a high value-low margin one. He added the refining margin was less than one per cent; if the containers were held for two to three days, the entire margin was wiped out.

Gold dealers rush to set up refineries (2024)

FAQs

How much does it cost to set up a gold refinery? ›

Considering an average investment of Rs 30 crore for setting up a one-tonne refinery, this year, the gold refining business is set to see investments worth Rs 900 crore,” he added. Through several years, many gold jewellers have set up their own refineries.

Can I sell my gold directly to a refinery? ›

If you sell your items straight to a refinery you are able to cut out the middle-man and get paid much more for your gold. Precious metals refineries are definitely the best place to sell gold and Cascade Refining is indeed an actual refinery.

How do you set up a gold refinery? ›

Gather your necessary supplies
  1. Battery charger.
  2. Ingot mold and gloves.
  3. Crucibles.
  4. Stirring rods.
  5. Flux.
  6. Electric gold and platinum tester.
  7. Simplicity gold and platinum refining system.
  8. Induction melting furnace.
Oct 10, 2018

Where do refineries get their gold? ›

Gold refineries can recycle and extract gold from most metal scrap that contains it. Some examples are dental scrap, post-cremation implants, electronic devices, and old jewelry. In this way, the gold that is already on the market is reused, and the impact of gold mining, which is a very polluting activity, is reduced.

How much do I need to start a refinery? ›

The investment cost of a completely new refinery depends on its size, complexity, and location. It is generally estimated that a 160,000 b/d (8 million tons per year) refinery, equipped with catalytic cracking, visbreaking, and gasoline units and built in Europe, would currently cost more than $6 billion.

Can refineries make a profit? ›

Refiners make money when the demand for fuel and value-added petroleum products is high, and they don't mind when the price for crude goes lower. Both offer a compelling investment opportunity, depending on where the price of crude is.

How much gold can I sell without reporting? ›

For example, if you sell more than $10,000 worth of precious metals to a dealer, the dealer must file a Form 8300 with the IRS. This form reports cash transactions over $10,000 and is used to combat money laundering and other illegal activities.

Do gold refineries make money? ›

Gold refining is a lucrative enterprise because of the huge demand in the jewellery industry and precious metals investors worldwide….

Can you make money refining gold? ›

You can start your own gold refining business with the right supplies, tools, and chemicals. The jewelry industry has high demand, which makes gold refinery a business worth getting into. But it isn't only the jewelry industry you'd be providing for.

How long does it take to set up a refinery? ›

Construction timelines for a modular refinery can range from 15 to 18 months from the start of a project to the first barrel of oil processed.

How long does it take to open a refinery? ›

Once the project funding is complete around the first of 2021, Prentice says the actual construction of the plant itself will take about 3 years, allowing America's first new greenfield refinery in almost half a century to kick off operations in early 2024, a dozen years after the planning phase began.

How much gold is lost in refining? ›

Typical losses from refining gold are 1%-2.5% from melt or mass losses and another 1.5%-2.5% on assay or undercarat losses.

What is the largest gold refinery in the US? ›

Largest US-owned Precious Metal Refiner

United is the largest US-owned full-service primary refiner for GOLD, SILVER, PLATINUM, and PALLADIUM in the nation. We specialize in refining for the jewelry industry, processing everything from gold scraps to polishing sweeps and other jewelry manufacturing byproducts.

Who is the biggest gold refiner? ›

Valcambi
FormerlyValori & Cambi
TypeS.A. (corporation)
IndustryRefining
FoundedBalerna, Switzerland (May 15, 1961)
HeadquartersBalerna , Switzerland
7 more rows

How many acres is a refinery? ›

Refinery Complex Area requirement is typically 5 Acres per 5,000 bpd refinery.

Why are there no new refineries in the US? ›

Yet while demand has been tight, concerns about climate change and societal push back against fossil fuels have made it difficult to build new refineries, even as U.S. and international demand for refined products continues to grow.

How much is a small refinery? ›

Finally, the North American Industry Classification Codes (NAICC) identifies the construction costs for small oil and gas structures at below $33.5 million. However, the smallest refinery currently under construction, a 20,000 b/d refinery in North Dakota, reportedly will cost $350 million.

How many refineries are shut down in the US? ›

Five refineries have shut down in the United States in just the past two years, reducing the nation's refining capacity by about 5 percent and eliminating more than 1 million barrels of fuel per day from the market, leaving the remaining facilities straining to meet demand.

Who do refineries sell to? ›

Gasoline service stations handle the bulk of public consumer sales and oil companies sell their petroleum products directly to factories, power plants, and transportation-related industries.

Will the US build more refineries? ›

The United States hasn't seen a major new refinery built since the 1970s. And there's a good chance it never will. Chevron CEO Mike Wirth recently stated as much in an interview with Bloomberg. "My personal view is there will never be another refinery built in the United States," Wirth said.

How much gold can a US citizen own? ›

Physical gold. According to the CBDT's most recent circular, men, regardless of marital status, are only allowed to possess 100 g of real gold in the form of jewelry and ornaments. Married women are allowed to possess 500 g, unmarried women 250 g, and men 500 g.

Is it illegal to own too much gold? ›

The limitation on gold ownership in the United States was repealed after President Gerald Ford signed a bill legalizing private ownership of gold coins, bars, and certificates by an Act of Congress, codified in Pub. L. 93–373, which went into effect December 31, 1974.

Does the government know if I buy gold? ›

Information the IRS Will Require

When a gold purchase is required to be reported, the dealer will be the one to report it. Form 8300 requires information about the gold buyer, including name, social security number, address, and license number.

Do gold refineries buy gold? ›

The basic overview is that a refinery receives raw material such as gold nuggets or doré from mining companies.

What is the lowest paying refinery job? ›

Those in the lowest 10 percent earn $47,380 or less. Refinery operator trainee salary falls on the low end of the pay scale.

Which gold refinery is best in the world? ›

The Perth Mint: Australia's Official Bullion Mint

Established in 1899, The Perth Mint is one of the most renowned precious metal refiners in the world. The Perth Mint is a leading precious metals enterprise in Australia, known for its innovative and premium gold, silver, and platinum coins/bars and services.

Why is it so hard to extract gold? ›

Certain contaminants in ores can interfere with the extractability of gold by cyanide. These interfering agents are called "preg-robbing ores". For example, gold can bind tightly to carbon, resisting normal cyanide extraction.

What is the easiest way to refine gold? ›

Using Acid

This is the most common method to purify gold. In this method, strong acids are used as a means of dissolving impurities. Hydrochloric acid and nitric acid are the acids used in this process. When gold is added to the solution containing the acids, impurities separate from the gold.

Is it illegal to smelt your own gold? ›

It is not illegal to melt, destroy, or modify any U.S. coins in the United States.

What is the lifespan of a refinery? ›

Consider this: Most US refineries are between 50 and 120 years old, with the average age right about 40. Even the “newest” US refinery with capacity to produce more than 100,000 barrels per day dates to 1977.

How do refineries make money? ›

The profitability of a refinery comes from the difference in value between the crude oil that it processes and the petroleum products that it produces. Most of a refiner's margin comes from the higher-value "light products" (i.e., gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel) that it makes.

How profitable is a crude oil refinery? ›

Today, the benchmark crack spread is $35, far above the historical average of $10.50. Based on today's prices, a refiner makes $35 in gross margins per barrel of refined crude oil.

How much do refineries pay? ›

Refinery Salary in California
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$142,477$11,873
75th Percentile$107,715$8,976
Average$85,778$7,148
25th Percentile$41,127$3,427

Why is refinery capacity so low? ›

Because of infrastructure limitations and an uncompetitive shipping environment, economic access to domestic crude oil and refined products is limited. Even with less capacity, United States refiners are working around the clock to produce fuel for consumers.

When was the last refinery built in the USA? ›

However, the newest refinery with significant downstream unit capacity is Marathon's facility in Garyville, Louisiana. That facility came online in 1977 with an initial atmospheric distillation unit capacity of 200,000 b/cd, and as of January 1, 2022, it had a capacity of 585,000 b/cd.

What is the highest salary in refinery? ›

What is the highest salary for a Refinery Operator in India? Highest salary that a Refinery Operator can earn is ₹29.2 Lakhs per year (₹2.4L per month).

How much does an oil refinery make a year? ›

How much does an Oil Refinery make? As of May 22, 2023, the average annual pay for an Oil Refinery in the United States is $32,280 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $15.52 an hour. This is the equivalent of $620/week or $2,690/month.

What is a mini refinery? ›

Small refineries, which are a collection of small refining units for refining and separating raw materials such as crude oil, gaseous condensate, solvents and mixtures to produce higher value-added materials such as naphtha, diesel and Kerosene, with capacities far below capacity conventional refineries are designed.

Can you melt different karats of gold together? ›

Q: Can I mix different colors or karats of gold? A: Different colors need to be cast separately. Karats can be mixed, but this will result in an alloy which is an odd karat.

What is the purest gold ever refined? ›

999.999—six nines fine: The purest gold ever produced. Refined by the Perth Mint in 1957. 999.99—five nines fine: The purest type of gold currently produced; the Royal Canadian Mint regularly produces commemorative coins in this fineness, including the world's largest at 100 kg.

What percentage of gold is left in the earth? ›

The average concentration of gold in Earth's crust is estimated to be between 0.0011 ppm(source) and 0.0031 ppm(source).

What US state has the most gold? ›

The U.S. is home to some of the world's largest and most productive gold mines, with significant amounts of the precious metal being produced nationwide. Nevada remains the top state with the most gold. However, many other states, including Colorado and Wyoming, also have significant reserves and a mining history.

Which country has the most gold in the ground? ›

Australia and Russia hold the largest reserves of gold

Australia and Russia hold a large share of the world's gold mine reserves, accounting for 8,400 metric tons and 6,800 metric tons, respectively. Worldwide, the production of gold reached an estimated 3,100 metric tons in 2022.

Which state is gold found? ›

Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming are the “States With Gold” in which major amounts of gold have been found.

Who owns the most physical gold? ›

United States

Who is the biggest buyer of gold? ›

China imported 1,343 tons of gold in 2022, the highest import level since 2018. Total gold imports for the year were up 64% over 2021. China ranks as the world's biggest gold consumer.

Who is the best gold seller in the world? ›

  • Our Top Picks.
  • APMEX (American Precious Metals Exchange)
  • JM Bullion.
  • BGASC.
  • Money Metals Exchange.
  • SD Bullion.
  • Golden Eagle Coins.
  • See More (3)

How much does a refinery project cost? ›

He said that the cost of the refinery cum petrochemical complex has increased from Rs 42,000 crore to Rs 72,000 crore due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the share of the state government in this cost escalation is around Rs 2,500 crore.

Is refining gold profitable? ›

Gold refining is a lucrative enterprise because of the huge demand in the jewellery industry and precious metals investors worldwide….

How much does it cost to mine and refine gold? ›

In 2022, mining costs totaled around 793 U.S. dollars per ounce of gold produced. Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited is one of the top gold producers worldwide. The company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

How much does gold production cost? ›

In 2022, average all-in sustaining costs (AISC) in the gold mining industry reached a record high, rising by 18% y-o-y to US$1,276/oz.

How long does it take to mine 1 oz of gold? ›

So digging and cleaning out a small but good crevice and panning the material might take twenty minutes. Let's say that yields a quarter of a gram, which amounts to about 0.75 grams of gold per hour, and that gives just about 42 hours to get an ounce of gold by panning in a typical but decent spot.

How much is 1 oz of mined gold worth? ›

$ 1,985.99

Who is largest producer of gold? ›

The leading gold mining countries

China, Australia, Russia, and Canada are respectively the largest producers of gold in the world, as of 2022. Global production of gold reached approximately 3,100 metric tons that year.

How much does it cost to start a gold mining company? ›

The average cost of a Mining Licence in the United States is estimated to be $1.7 million USD.

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