10 June 2025
Gemfields’ Mozambican Ruby Mine is the First Gemstone Operation to Commit to an Independent IRMA Audit
Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM), the Mozambican ruby mine majority owned and operated by Gemfields, has committed to an independent third-party assessment against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. MRM is the first gemstone operation globally to commit to independent IRMA audit, demonstrating its desire to align with the highest levels of responsible mining standards.
The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) is (1) a voluntary mining standard describing best practices to protect people and the environment, (2) an assurance process to measure mines against that standard, and (3) an organisation equally governed by representatives of six affected stakeholder sectors – communities, organised labour, NGOs, finance, purchasers and mining companies — that controls the standard and the assurance process. IRMA is globally unique in that its governance provides communities equal power to mining companies, and the non-commercial interests the same power as commercial interests.
“By volunteering Montepuez Ruby Mining for an independent audit against the world’s most rigorous global mining standard, Gemfields is providing unprecedented transparency into the operations of a gemstone mine,” said IRMA Executive Director, Aimee Boulanger.
MRM has welcomed several independent audits carried out on behalf of customers and downstream jewellery brands since 2019, although the costly and expert nature of these exercises means that they are not an option for all parties to carry out. Consequently, Gemfields began a process of seeking an alternative means to offer more accessible findings that maintained credibility for a wider audience. Gemfields’ work towards aligning MRM with IRMA standards began in earnest in 2023, and the company is now keen to begin the process of independently verifying its operations against these, the highest standards in responsible mining.
“Gemfields is a world-leading miner of coloured gemstones, with operations based in remote areas in Africa. In order to provide assurance of our commitment to upholding values of transparency, legitimacy and integrity, the company has chosen to work towards alignment with the highest standards in responsible mining and enable independent assessment of its operations, starting with those in Mozambique. Throughout the process and into the future, we hope to engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders which will inform advances in best practice and identify where there is more work to be done,” said Gemfields CEO, Sean Gilbertson. “It is Gemfields’ aim to enable a positive impact in the countries in which we operate, and committing to assessment against IRMA standards will provide a valuable step forward in this regard.”
KPMG Performance Registrar Inc, an IRMA-approved independent audit firm, will be carrying out the assessment, which includes a desk review (stage 1) followed by an onsite audit (stage 2). Members of the affected community, public officials, representatives of the workforce, or other organisations are invited to submit comments to KPMG PRI regarding how the mine site is managing its impacts to the environment including air, water, waste, greenhouse gasses and ecosystems; how the mine supports its workforce; how the mine interacts with the surrounding community, and how it impacts the community, positively or negatively. Interested parties may also ask to be interviewed by the auditors once they are on the mine site.
For further information of MRM’s IRMA assessment, visit the IRMA website