Bugesera District has temporarily closed all quarry operations in Ntarama Sector pending safety inspections, officials told The New Times. The decision follows a quarry collapse earlier this month that killed 10 workers. The site belonged to COTRAKI, a licensed cooperative. The deadly accident is among many that happen every now and then. A few months earlier, a mining accident killed seven people and injured three in Gakenke District. Looking back to 2025, there was an accident almost every few months, including in Rutsiro District where an illegal mining site collapsed, killing one. These recurring accidents are unacceptable. No Rwandan should lose their life while trying to earn a living, especially in a sector that is expected to provide decent livelihoods. Mining and quarrying are major contributors to Rwanda’s economy and generate a significant share of the country’s export revenues. Mineral export earnings reached $1.7 billion in 2024. The sector also has greater growth potential. In the first quarter of this year, mining and quarrying grew by 20 per cent, driven largely by strong global demand and high prices for minerals such as gold, lithium and the 3Ts. But these gains must translate into safer and better lives for workers. While thousands have benefited from the sector’s growth, every life lost is one too many. The Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) has repeatedly urged operators to improve safety at mining and quarry sites. It must now lead efforts to strengthen enforcement and hold negligent operators accountable. Institutions including RMB, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (RMB) and district authorities have established clear requirements for quarry operators. These include district authorisation, a business registration certificate, an approved environmental impact assessment, a map of the extraction area and the employment of a qualified engineer to supervise daily operations. The rules are commendable, but compliance must go beyond paperwork. Authorities should conduct regular inspections, enforce strict safety standards and impose firm penalties on operators whose negligence leads to accidents. There should be zero tolerance for preventable deaths caused by non-compliance or poor safety practices. Some accidents also occur at illegal mining and quarrying sites. Local authorities and security agencies must work together to identify and shut down such operations before more lives are lost. The growth of the mining sector should never come at the expense of the people whose labour sustains it.
