Description

MINING OVERVIEW

• Mining in Rwanda presents un exploited opportunities in ores, processing and diversification
• Rwanda’s main mineral exports are ores processed to extract tin, tantalum and tungsten and few gold and gemstones
• Mining is the second largest export in the Rwandan economy. In 2014, the sector generated about $210.6 Million of foreign exchange.
• All mineral exports from Rwanda are traceable through the tagging system currently accepted by the downstream buyers of the minerals.
• Exploration works to identify and delineate more mineral deposits are underway
• A strong, investor friendly legal and policy framework has been put in place.

KEY TARGETS

• Contribution to GDP is to increase from 1.2% to 5.27 %   by 2017/2018.
• The number of working people (16 years and above) with main job in the mining sub-sector  will increase from 20,000 to 60,000 by 2017/2018.
• Total investment (cumulative) in the sector will be increased from USD 150 million to USD 500 million by 2017/2018.
•  Export earnings will increase from USD 158 million in 2011 to USD 400 million by 2017/2018
•  Certified mine sites with efficient water and wastes management system to increase from 20% in 2011/2012 to 100% by 2017/2018
•  Percentage of the certified mine sites with  safe and secure working conditions will be increased from 25% in 2011/2012 to 80% by 2017/2018

MINING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• Mineral Exploration Opportunities: Intensive, up to date and detailed mineral exploration can be carried out in the recently identified Prospective Target Areas (PTAs) to delineate and quantify their mineral resources. The Government of Rwanda has invested in exploration works in PTAs to generate good primary geology data to be used by mineral exploration companies.
• Mining Opportunities (Tin, Tungsten, Coltan and Gemstones): The mining law grants the right to exploit three categories of mines: artisanal, small scale, and large scale mines to any person/ company with proven technical expertise and financial capacity to develop and run a mining project.
• Industrial Mining. Currently, Rwanda’s mining sector is mostly artisanal; Modern technology is needed to upgrade the sector to a semi- mechanized and later at  industrial level to increase production which is low compared to the proven potential. At least mining equipment including drillers, bulldozers, gravity table shakers etc. are needed to upgrade the sector.
• Targeting Value Addition: Rwanda’s mineral ores produced in the country are 100% exported as raw mineral concentrates, not as metals. The establishment of processing plants to smelt cassiterite into tin, refining wolframite and tantalite into tungsten and tantalum respectively is open to private investors.
• Partnership with Local Mining Companies: Most local mining companies are artisanal in their settings. Over 400 local mining companies and 30 co-operatives are open to consider partnership and JVs, covering financing, capital equipment, technical support and competitive mineral trade contracts.
• Gemstones: The exploration and exploitation of gemstones is still at a low level. Rwanda possesses a variety of gemstones including; Beryl (Aquamarine), Amblygonite, Corundum (Ruby and Sapphire), Tourmalines and different types of Quartz. Setting up cutting and polishing plants of gemstones is also an opportunity.
• Trade in Mineral Substances: Trade in mineral substances is carried out by holders of mining and mineral trading licenses and owners of smelting and screening companies. Trading in minerals, including cassiterite, wolframite and niobium - tantalite must contain at least 30% value added.
• Industrial Minerals. Targeting industrial minerals exploitation and processing production to meet the demand for construction materials is still low especially tiles, slabs sculptures, paints, bricks and concrete aggregates.
• Rwanda possesses variety minerals such as good quality silica sands, kaolin, vermiculite, diatomite, clays, limestone, talcum, gypsum and pozzolan.