Focus: Abundance of mineral wealth in Rwanda an undisputable reality

The recent developments indicate that mineral wealth in Rwanda is more of a reality than a myth as it has been widely speculated by many people mostly from the western world. A number of independent studies and surveys have been carried out which have objectively proven the presence of mineral wealth in many parts of Rwanda. While responding to the deception and speculations of Rwanda not having mineral resources in one of the previous press conference, the line Minster Vincent Karega asked how it can so happen that our immediate neighbour the Congo be having immense minerals and we happen not to have yet we are on the same geographical pattern. Among the recent efforts to demystify this deception is the joint project between the Rwanda Geology and Mines Authority (OGMR) with the Germany Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) which was recently launched. Its major objectives are to prepare the certification of Rwandan minerals and to identify the geographical origins these minerals. During his opening speech, the Director General of OGMR Dr. Michael Biryabarema, pointed out that this pilot project is aimed at certifying minerals in Rwanda, setting principles and standards to guide the mining sector as well as demystifying the long contested availability of mineral resources in Rwanda. The meeting was also centred on having stakeholders in the mining fraternity collectively devise criteria’s for the selection of mineral certification strategies and put together a pool of ideas prudent for upgrading the mining sector in Rwanda. The Minister of State in charge of Minerals and Natural resources Vincent Karega commended the efforts taken in this direction, pointing out that this would build confidence in the potential investors in this sector to know that Rwanda truly has mineral wealth. “We need to create more confidence in our partners about the availability of minerals in Rwanda highlighting their origin; this will clear the air about the on going contest on whether we have minerals,” highlighted Karega. He further pointed that the course of events so far is good as the government is engaged in activities geared at supporting the mining sector through attracting investors, up grading capacity for mining to be competently undertaken, that the institution of standards and certification of minerals will only make things better. Biryabarema further underscored how important this joint program is, pointing out that it will greatly foster transparency, ethics and professionalism in the mining sector. He added that the overall goal of the certification process is to put in place mining standards and practices which are recognised and accepted on the international scale. The framework in which these minerals are certified is called Certified Trading Chains (CTC) and it is in this model that this pilot project is mapped. This model was introduced to create a situation where mineral resources are legally produced and traded in a transparent fashion to reduce conflicts associated with the mining sector. In an interview with the head of the mining economy and mining environment sections at BGR Dr Gudrun Franken, she expressed optimism about the process, adding that so far she has noticed that Rwanda has many high value minerals and after the certification, a lot will change on a positive note. Among the minerals currently mined in Rwanda include cassiterite (Sno2), Wolfram(WO3), Colombo-tentalite(Ta205) and gold, other key minerals include ambrigonite, beryl and semi precious stones such as tourmaline, topaz corundum, amethyst, sapphires, opal, agate and flint. Last year alone the mining sector fetched the economy close to 100 million US dollars, and there are high signs that it will improve more so after full enactment of the mining policy. The minerals have also created much employment for those directly working in the mines, engineers and administrators in the sector. Certifying and publicising our mineral wealth is a step that will surely lead to even bigger dividends. Rwandans will also proudly speak of their mineral wealth the way they are of their coffee and tea and a lot more. Hopefully, this new move will also lead to better working conditions for those who are in the mining sector as the focus will now be on them. Ends