London Stock Exchange (LSE)-listed mining company Aterian Plc has expanded its mineral trading operations in Rwanda, where it will collect minerals from local artisanal and small-scale miners, as well as cooperatives, for export. Aterian has operated in Rwanda for some time, primarily focusing on lithium exploration. In July this year, the company reported the discovery of high-grade lithium deposits, although production has not yet started. The announcement of its expanded trading operations was made on September 15. Charles G. Bray, Executive Chairman of Aterian, told The New Times that only suppliers complying with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative (ITSCI) traceability standards will be eligible to work with the company. To support mineral acquisition and boost trading volumes, Aterian has secured a $250,000 loan. Bray explained that the loan is a mezzanine facility intended to provide initial capital to activate trading activities. “Practically, this meant we could finance the procurement of minerals, establish logistics channels, and build up stock for export. It has taken some time, especially as we will not lower our standards for traceability, but allow us to execute on the first container shipment, and as volumes grow, we expect operations to become self-financing from cash flows,” he noted. Bray added that the company will remain open to expanding its financing base should supplier demand outpace their initial funding. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s newly discovered lithium ‘world-class’ — Aterian chairman Talking about the importance of both the company’s trading and mining activities, Bray said mining is about creating longer term value from discovering and developing resources, whereas trading is about short-term networking, aggregating and exporting supply today — creating an immediate route-to-market for Rwanda’s minerals. “Both are necessary for in-country value addition in our view,” he said. ALSO READ: High-grade lithium deposits found in Rwanda The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) guidelines set global standards for responsible mineral sourcing, focusing on preventing conflict financing and human rights abuses in supply chains. The ITSCI (International Tin Supply Chain Initiative) program provides traceability and due diligence tools to verify that minerals are conflict-free and ethically sourced. “Each supplier undergoes rigorous compliance checks, including on-site audits and conflict-free verification,” he said. “Our aim is to build a diversified, high-integrity supply chain that strengthens Rwanda’s position as a trusted exporter of responsibly sourced minerals.” ALSO READ: New joint venture to explore Lithium in Rwanda The platform, he added, is designed to support local suppliers and improve productivity. “We want to share our knowledge and capital with local miners and provide them with direct access to international markets through a responsible and compliant channel,” Bray said. “Ultimately, we hope that this will boost Rwanda’s export capacity and generate benefits at both the national and community level.” Aterian, which has a market capitalisation of £4.8 million, focuses on critical minerals such as tantalum, niobium, lithium, and other base metals.
