Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Edouard NGIRENTE, on December 4th, 2024, officially opened the seventh edition of Rwanda Mining Week in Kigali by emphasizing the sector’s transformative role in Rwanda’s socio-economic development. He noted that the event’s theme, “Mining for Community Development,” aligns with Rwanda’s commitment to citizen-centered development.
“It reflects Rwanda’s citizen-centered approach that puts communities at the center of our development priorities,” he stated.
He highlighted the impact of the mining revenue-sharing scheme, which allocated 2 billion RWF between 2019 and 2023 to eight mining-host districts, resulting in significant social and economic benefits.
Dr. Ngirente urged mining stakeholders to prioritize corporate social responsibility, saying, “We encourage all actors in the mining sector to actively engage in activities that benefit mining-host communities and positively impact their lives.”
He underscored the importance of sustainable practices, calling for adherence to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles across the mineral value chain. He emphasized, “We must develop comprehensive plans for the entire life cycle of a mine and ensure land is progressively rehabilitated to benefit local communities and ecosystems.”
Rwanda’s ambitious National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) aims to increase mineral export earnings from $1.1 billion to $2.17 billion by 2029.
“We cannot achieve this target if we continue doing business as usual. We must adopt environmentally friendly practices, advanced exploration techniques, and enhance mineral value addition,” Dr. Ngirente cautioned.
He praised the forthcoming graduation of 500 miners under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program, noting, “This process of acknowledging skills acquired in informal workplace contexts will facilitate miners’ access to the professional labor market and ensure career progression.”
The Prime Minister concluded by urging mining operators to comply with legal frameworks: “The Government urges mining operators to only participate in legal mining activities and follow the rules of the new mining and quarry operations law.” He assured stakeholders of government support to address sector challenges and called for collective action, declaring, “Let this week be an occasion for all stakeholders to engage in productive discussions, share experiences, and network on investment opportunities in the mining sector.”
Francis KAMANZI, the CEO of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), emphasized the critical role of mining in fostering economic growth and community development.
He stated, “Our mining industry is a lifeline for thousands of our people living in areas where mineral extraction and processing take place.”
Highlighting Rwanda’s achievements, he noted that the country remains a significant global producer of tin, tantalum, tungsten (3Ts), precious gemstones, and rare earth elements. “Rwanda is one of the largest producers of 3Ts and high volumes of gemstones such as ruby, sapphire, and aquamarine,” he said, adding that the sector aligns with the African Mining Vision and Agenda 2063 to promote local industrialization and green energy transition.
He detailed the sector’s 2024 reforms, including a new law targeting illegal mining and illicit mineral trade, as well as the introduction of digital platforms like Inkomane to streamline operations. He remarked, “Thanks to the introduction of integrated systems, miners across the value chain can now use EBMs while paying taxes, including royalty, corporate income, and employment taxes.”
Looking forward, he urged stakeholders to embrace value addition, stating, “If all mining players want to get the most out of their investments, value addition is crucial.” He invited potential investors to collaborate, assuring that RMB will provide the necessary support.
Kamanzi underscored the need for occupational health and safety, warning, “Despite the mining industry’s high profits, it is detrimental if we continue to lose lives and see the environment deteriorate.” Addressing environmental concerns, he pointed to climate change as a priority, saying, “We cannot afford to put off implementing immediate intervention steps because global warming is real.”
He praised efforts like the National Airborne Geophysical Survey for lithium and the establishment of an internationally certified mineral testing lab in Kigali, designed to boost the sector’s competitiveness.
He thanked stakeholders and delegates for their involvement, saying, “Your involvement is key to driving our sector forward,” and invited them to invest in Rwanda’s promising mining sector.
Eng. Andre MUTSINDASHYAKA, the Secretary General of the Rwanda Extractive Industry Workers Union (REWU), highlighted the union’s efforts to promote workers’ welfare. He recounted the challenges in the mining sector when REWU was established in 2014, particularly the low rate of formal employment contracts, which stood at a mere 2%. Through consistent advocacy, this figure has now risen to 34%, marking significant progress.
He emphasized the union’s philosophy of fostering social dialogue to enhance employer-employee relationships, which in turn boosts productivity and wages.
“We promote workers’ rights and encourage collaboration between employees and employers to increase production and remuneration,” he noted.
The union’s efforts have led to improved working conditions, including fair wages for skilled workers and written contracts for employees.
He also addressed the issue of income instability for the 81% of mining employees paid based on production, who sometimes earn nothing if targets are unmet. To mitigate this, REWU has successfully negotiated collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with some companies, such as Trinity Metals, which guarantees a minimum daily wage of 3,000 Rwandan Francs, regardless of production levels, alongside performance bonuses.
The union also advocates for broader inclusion in Rwanda’s social security system to ensure long-term welfare for workers. Mutsindashyaka concluded by reaffirming REWU’s commitment to promoting decent work, fair wages, and economic growth within mining communities.
“Our mission is to secure rights for workers and ensure equitable income distribution across villages,” he stated.
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