Rwanda’s mining sector delivered an impressive performance in 2024, recording $1.75 billion in mineral export earnings. This marks a major milestone as the sector accelerates toward meeting the National Strategy for Transformation 2 (NST-2) target of $2.17 billion in annual export revenues by 2029.
Over the past seven years (2017–2024), Rwanda’s mineral exports have more than tripled — from $373 million in 2017 to $1.75 billion in 2024. This exponential growth is rooted in key sectoral reforms, including enhanced mineral value addition, diversified markets, professional mining practices, a shift to mechanized operations, and robust exploration and investment strategies.
Mining is now a central pillar in Rwanda’s economic transformation. From exploration to processing and trading, the sector has undergone significant regulatory and operational overhauls, shaping a more resilient and future-ready landscape.
But what exactly is fueling this momentum? How is Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) leading efforts across the mining value chain to meet — and potentially exceed — the ambitious NST-2 target?
The answer lies in five strategic pillars: exploration, mechanization, professionalization and sustainability, value addition, and access to finance.
1. Exploration: The foundation of sector’s growth
Mineral exploration is the cornerstone of our sector’s future providing the critical data required to assess the economic viability of mining operations, helping determine mineral deposit size, grade, and location.
Since 2023, the Government of Rwanda (GoR) has initiated a three-year national mineral exploration campaign, with a strategic focus on gold and lithium. This campaign aims to identify inferred mineral resources, support investment promotion, and inform long-term resource management.
RMB is also investing in human capital development, prioritizing geological and technical training to build local expertise in modern exploration techniques and data analytics.
2. Mechanization: From artisanal to advanced
Rwanda is rapidly transitioning from artisanal mining to mechanized operations across small, medium, and large-scale regimes. This shift is expected to double extraction efficiency — from the current 40% to an ambitious 80%.
“We’ve trained mining operators on process optimization and conducted feasibility studies for developmental projects,” said Dzapasi, a mineral processing expert at RMB. “We are also piloting mineral processing data management and reconciliation practices to ensure transparency and accuracy.”
RMB has launched pilot plant test work at nine sites, providing scalable models for testing extraction technologies before full-scale implementation. These innovations will pave the way for more modern and cost-effective beneficiation methods.
3. Professionalization and Sustainability
The mining sector’s transformation is anchored in professionalization. The influx of skilled geologists, mining engineers, and environmental specialists is driving operational excellence and sustainable resource exploitation.
This professional approach ensures cost-effectiveness, minimizes environmental impact, and promotes land reclamation and ecosystem preservation.
4. Value addition: creating local wealth
Value addition is key to unlocking the full economic potential of Rwanda’s mineral resources. By processing minerals locally rather than exporting them raw, the country can retain more value within its economy.
Rwanda already boasts three modern value addition facilities for gold refining, tantalum refining, and tin smelting. However, there remains significant potential to develop refineries for lithium and tungsten, and more workshops for gemstone polishing and cutting.
Expanding domestic processing capacity will reduce raw mineral exports, generate off-farm jobs, diversify the economy, and increase tax revenue.
5. Access to finance to unlock investment potential
RMB is tackling persistent financing challenges through multi-stakeholder engagement. Efforts are underway to improve access to capital for both new and existing players, making the sector more inclusive and investment friendly.
Looking Ahead
With these strategic pillars in motion, Rwanda’s mining sector is on a clear path to not only meet but possibly surpass its NST-2 targets. The continued collaboration between government, private sector, and development partners will be crucial to sustain this momentum and ensure that mining remains a driver of inclusive and sustainable economic transformation. (End)