Once certified, the gold could eventually be used as collateral to obtain financing, according to one of the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. Before the move, about half of Argentina’s gold was in domestic vaults with the other half in London, another person said.
Officials from the central bank, known by its Spanish acronym BCRA, declined to comment on the matter.
The monetary authority separately confirmed Monday it had sent gold between its accounts, mentioning both ones in the country and others abroad. However, the bank didn’t say how much of its nearly $5 billion in gold was shipped, for what reason or to where.
Bank officials also criticized what they called “irresponsible” reports about the gold going abroad, emphasizing that management of reserves has always been kept confidential.
Newspaper Pagina 12 published a video Aug. 19 of a truck emblazoned with the BCRA logo driving on the highway, reporting that it was en route to the main international airport in Buenos Aires with $250 million of gold bars.
It’s not clear how Caputo and Central Bank Governor Santiago Bausili will use the gold that’s been transferred abroad to be certified. But the economy minister has already said the government is negotiating a special purchase vehicle, or repo agreement, with commercial banks.
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