Muhanga, February 10, 2023: The Governor of Southern Province and the Deputy CEO of RMB co-chaired a consultative meeting at a provincial level that has drawn together various mining operators, local government, and stakeholders in the Southern province. The participants mulled over various joint efforts to develop the sector.

Nearly all the districts in the Southern province are home to mining activities. Various minerals are found in this southern part of the country. They include 3Ts, gemstones, and lithium.

In her opening remarks, the Governor started off by lauding the existing collaboration between RMB and eight districts of the Southern province. Such cooperation makes it possible to deliver an effective and professional mining and quarrying sector.

The Governor noted, ‘We are very committed to contributing to the professionalization of the mining sector as we address any issues still facing the sector’.

She commended RMB for establishing Mining Association that operates at the provincial level. She suggested that the association of miners needs also to operate at the district level focusing on both mining and quarrying operations.

The Deputy CEO argued that the mining sector in Rwanda has continued to grow at a very commendable pace.

Current data indicate that the mining industry generated  $ 772,476,045 Million in revenues compared to $516 Million that had previously been registered in 2021’.

He reiterated that it is high time mining operators phased out artisanal mining as they aim at reaching semi-mechanized mining to improve the mineral recovery rate. As aligned with the ongoing efforts towards modernization, RMB in partnership with other stakeholders has aimed at facilitating mining operators to access pieces of mining equipment- a move that will increase mineral production.

As of today, there are tin smelter, a gold refinery that refines gold at 99.9%, and the Coltan plant which has recently been completed in the Bugesera district and is to be inaugurated in the offing. There is an ongoing feasibility study on a lithium plant that will add up to increased mineral production.

In the same vein, many companies in Rwanda are investing in cutting and polishing gemstones to make beautiful pieces of jewelry.  This is a commendable pace toward the sector’s development.

Many of the participants asserted that mining companies need to develop social corporate responsibility plans which will guide them in making substantial impacts to the communities surrounding the mines. This is part of a mining revenue scheme that puts mining at the heart of people’s economic transformation.