Rwanda’s mining and quarrying output rose 4.1 per cent year-on-year in November 2025, according to the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) released by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) this month. Data shows that output in the mining sector, which accounts for 15.8 per cent of total industrial output, increased by an annual average of 6.2 per cent to November 2025. ALSO READ: Rwanda records $1.5bn in gold exports in 2024 The gains registered in the sector reflect multi-year efforts to modernise the industry and shift from largely artisanal operations to more professional and technology-driven mining. Itzhak Fisher, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), attributed the sector’s steady growth to a series of reforms aimed at improving efficiency and accountability. “Thanks to ongoing reforms to drive technology-enabled mining, professionalise operations, streamline licensing and strengthen real-time inspections to enforce regulatory compliance,” he said during the 8th edition of Rwanda Mining Week, adding that continuous professional development has also helped improve skills across the sector. ALSO READ: Industrial output rises by 10 per cent in November Fisher noted that Rwanda is intensifying exploration activities in 52 potential target areas, with a focus on lithium, beryllium, rare earth elements, gold and the traditional 3Ts — tin, tantalum and tungsten. The exploration drive comes amid rising global demand for critical minerals used in clean energy technologies, electric vehicles and advanced digital systems. The growth in output is also translating into jobs. The mining sector now employs more than 92,000 people, according to Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva, marking a strong rebound from the Covid-19 period when employment dropped to about 57,000 workers. Before the pandemic, the number of people working in mining had already risen steadily, from 47,727 in 2017 to more than 71,000 in 2019. “Mining has become a key pillar of our national development,” Nsengiyumva said at Rwanda Mining Week, pointing to the sector’s role in job creation and economic transformation. ALSO READ: Mining sector records over 90,000 jobs In 2024, mineral export revenues reached $1.7 billion, with gold contributing $1.5 billion. Gold exports increased from 2.4 tonnes in 2017 to over 19 tonnes in 2024, supported by expanded production and the establishment of the Gasabo Gold Refinery, which allows local processing before export. Other minerals have also recorded gains, with coltan exports rising to $99 million in 2024 from $61 million in 2017, cassiterite revenues climbing to $96 million from $50 million, and wolfram exports increasing to $36 million from $13 million over the same period. Under the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), the government is targeting $2.2 billion in annual mineral exports by 2029, a goal officials say will depend on continued mechanisation, value addition and investment. Investment in the mining sector has already increased more than fivefold, from $25 million in 2010 to $ 138 million in 2024, enabling companies to adopt modern equipment and improve safety and productivity standards.
