Mining Investment Opportunities
Rwanda’s mining sector presents untapped and lucrative investment opportunities across the entire mineral value chain.
• The Government of Rwanda has invested in exploration works in Prospective Target Areas to generate good primary geology data to be used by mineral exploration companies.
• 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.
• Potential Target Areas identified for investment are published in investment pitchbook every year
Mining Opportunities
The mining law grants the right to exploit three categories of mines: artisanal, small scale, and largescale mines to any person or company with proven technical expertise and financial capacity to develop and run a mining project. There are also JVs and partnership opportunities with local companies that lack access to financing and equipment to boost their productivity.
• Rwanda’s vision is to be a mineral value-addition hub in the region. Rwanda’s mineral ores produced in the country are mostly exported as raw mineral concentrates, not as metals.
• So far, we have only one Tin Smelter( LuNa Smelter), one Gold refinery(GGR) and one Tantalum refinery (PowerX) which is still under construction.
• The opportunities to establish other processing plants such as for tungsten, Lithium and gemstones cutting and polishing are open to private investors.
Currently, Rwanda’s mining sector is mostly artisanal. Modern technology is needed to upgrade the sector to a semi-mechanized and later at an industrial level to increase production, which is low compared to the proven potential.
The exploration and exploitation of gemstones are still at a low level in Rwanda. The country possesses a variety of gemstones including beryl (Aquamarine), Amblygonite, Corundum (Ruby and sapphire), Tourmalines and different types of Quartz.
There are opportunities to set up businesses cutting and polishing gemstones.
Rwanda possesses a variety of materials such as good-quality silica sands, kaolin, granite, vermiculite, diatomite, clays, limestone, talcum, gypsum and pozzolana. However, the exploitation and processing of industrial materials to meet the demand for construction materials is still low especially production of tiles, slabs sculptures, paints, bricks and concrete aggregates.
Mining equipment and services are required both in the country and the region. There is a gap in companies trading in or offering mining-related services.
Trade in mineral substances is carried out by holders of mining and mineral trading licenses and owners of smelting companies. Trading in minerals, including cassiterite, wolframite and niobium–tantalite, must contain at least 30% value added.
Noting that the Private-Public Partnership approach is most welcome, current investment opportunities include the Next exploration stages such as exploratory drilling, and 3D seismic survey.
Methane exploitation and commercialization, carbon dioxide exploitation commercialization, Petroleum Exploitation and commercialization, when deposits are confirmed, the PSA approach is welcome.
Midstream (Pipeline...), downstream (CNG distribution centers...),
Exploration through PPA, Exploitation through PSA regime.