Mineral Exploration
Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board Mineral Exploration regulates, plans, coordinates, and conducts all activities related to geological studies and mineral resources evaluation. Mineral exploration activities include geological mapping, exploration of economic minerals and construction materials, identification of potential target areas (PTAs) for future mining projects, assessment of license application files, conducting chemical analysis (within RMB laboratory) of minerals to be exported, and providing sample export permits.
Geological mapping is a process of physically going to the field with the aim of recording all geological information from the outcropping rocks. A geologist gathers information that includes boundaries between different rock types, rock texture, sedimentary and tectonic structures, evidence of rock deformation, etc.
This is an extremely descriptive and interpretive scientific process to produce maps with different uses like basic geological maps for civil works, quality assessment of ground water, predicting and monitoring of geo-hazards, and widely used for mineral prospecting.
For the last two decades, methods used to generate geological maps have evolved with the use of Geographical Information System software (GIS). Tools of the software enable geologists to electronically manipulate the geometry and features of rock bodies after which they are stored, analyzed, displayed, and queried in harmony with a significant variety of other types of data.
The Mineral Exploration Division at RMB carries out all mapping activities as aforementioned on a country scale by updating the available sheets but also on a small scale in mineralized zones and prospected areas.
Mineral Exploration Division conducts an assessment of all licenses application especially on the part that contains geological information of the site to be mined or explored. This is done by carefully analyzing all details provided in the file to assess if they are eligible to be granted the applied license. In case of lack of information or the provided info which does not correlate with the reality, field visits might be conducted for further evaluation.
Periodically submitted progress reports as requested in the agreements made between Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board and stakeholders, are also assessed to determine if companies are fully complying with the agreement and in case of non-compliance a field visit might be prepared for an on-field evaluation.
This is a campaign effectuated on a year basis where all known mineralized areas are evaluated and ranked based on the priority of present minerals. PTAs are identified by conducting a deep and thoroughly desktop study using geophysical, geochemical, mining history and geological data available in the archive and library of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board.
Exploration and prospecting activities are planned based on the priority of each PTA taking into consideration the available budget.
This is an important campaign going hand in hand with the vision of the Board of conducting a research not only on 3Ts but also on other present minerals known as diversification Minerals. As provided by the Mining Law n°13/2018 of 13 August 2018 and the 2019 implementing CEO’s Orders, the objective is to yearly publish a list of priority potential areas ready for investment.
The Petroleum and Gas Division is mandated to monitor and coordinate the implementation of strategies related to the petroleum and gas upstream sub-sector under RMB as the Government of Rwanda institution responsible for implementing and advising the government on issues related national policies, laws and strategies related to mines, petroleum and gas.
The Rwanda petroleum and gas upstream sector is currently about exploration for fossil oil and gas and exploitation of methane gas resources found in lake Kivu waters.
The fossil petroleum exploration areas currently include offshore blocks of Lake Kivu Basin – From 2012 up to date, three geophysical prospections have been conducted to assess the petroleum potentials of the basin while the methane gas exploitation involves extracting a naturally occurring methane gas from lake Kivu waters. Currently, three operators from private sector are actively operating for different commercial applications such as electricity generation and clean cooking gas.
RMB regulates and facilitates activities related to the petroleum and gas upstream sub-sector which include exploration. It also involves in regulating the methane gas exploitation activities through technical advising, facilitation of related investments, supervising and monitoring private and public entities involved in methane gas operations.
RMB leads the petroleum exploration activities including Potential Fields and Geochemical Surveys, Lake Kivu Bathymetry Surveying, 2D Seismic Surveys across the country.
RMB prepares policies and regulations related to petroleum, gas, and methane gas and oversees their implementation.