President Paul Kagame on Friday, May 23, visited Nyakabingo Mine, Rwanda’s largest tungsten operation and the leading producer of the metal in Africa, which also ranks fourth globally. Tungsten, known for its high melting point and density, is an important material in the manufacturing of metal wires, electrodes, and wear-resistant machine parts. Rwanda exports large quantities of the mineral, especially to Austria, where it is refined for various industrial uses. ALSO READ: Inside Rwanda’s Tungsten mine which is the leading producer in Africa Located in Rulindo District, Nyakabingo Mine, which is operated by Trinity Metals, produces approximately 120 tonnes of wolframite, the host material for tungsten, every month. Trinity Metals focuses on extracting tin, tungsten, and tantalum in Rwanda. The company was formed through the consolidation of three companies: Trinity Musha Mines, Trinity Nyakabingo Mine, and Rutongo Mines. A post shared by the President’s office via X on Friday, showed pictures of Kagame touring the facility, walking through the tunnels, escorted by various dignitaries. The President’s tour of the mine comes about three weeks after he and Trinity Metals’ board chair Shawn McCormick discussed partnerships and investments in the Rwandan mining sector. This month, the company signed a letter of intent with Nathan Trotter, the largest manufacturer of tin and tin alloys in North America, to establish a new supply chain of tin from Rwanda to the United States. According to the US Department’s Bureau of Energy Resources, the deal is part of broader efforts to onshore critical minerals, enhance national security, and promote economic growth in the United States. ALSO READ: Rwandan company in talks to supply Tungsten to US smelters Nyakabingo Mine employs over 1,800 workers who engage in various roles, from office duties to mechanised underground mining in search of wolframite. Trinity Metals is also in talks with smelters in the US, with the intent of supplying tungsten to the US in future, according to the company's top officials. In June 2024, Trinity Metals secured a $3.85 million Technical Assistance Grant from the DFC, making it the first operating mine in Africa to receive such technical assistance from the US investment agency. Rwanda's mineral export revenues reached $1.7 billion (Rwf2.38 trillion) in 2024, with gold raking in $1.5 billion, according to information shared by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente during a presentation to the parliament in March. Wolfram exports generated up to $36 million in 2024 up from $13 million in 2017. Under the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), the government targets $2.2 billion in annual mineral exports by 2029. ALSO READ: What new US-Rwanda tin export deal means for economy Since the 1920s, according to Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), geological surveys have indicated that Rwanda possesses huge deposits of tin, tantalum, tungsten (3Ts) across the country. The deposits are associated with steep faulting and folds coincident with “highs” on intrusive granite cupolas.
