First shipment of tungsten from Rwanda arrives in America to help address security of supply concerns

Senior officials from Trinity Metals, Global Tungsten and Powders (GTP), part of the Plansee Group, and Traxys were joined today by the US Ambassador to Rwanda and The Deputy Rwandan Ambassador to the US to witness the historic arrival of tungsten concentrate (WO3) from Trinity Nyakabingo Mine at the premises of GTP in Towanda, Pennsylvania.

Under the commercial agreement reached last month, GTP’s processing facilities have begun receiving material from Rwanda for processing into high-quality tungsten and tungsten carbide powders that are used to produce finished components for industrial end uses.

Trinity Metals Chairman Shawn McCormick said: “It is an honor to see our material from Rwanda here at one of the largest tungsten processors in the world being converted into products that will help make America safer, stronger, more prosperous.  In turn, the nearly 7,000 employees of Trinity Metals and government of Rwanda will benefit from such market access and the deepening of strategic ties between the two countries.”

Plansee Group Director of Global Raw Materials Eric Rowe added: “We welcome this initial shipment of responsibly produced tungsten raw material to our mix and the American critical minerals supply chain.  It is truly a historic moment to witness the arrival of this product in America from Rwanda.” 

Traxys Head of Tin and Specialty Metals Ioannis Kallinikos said: “Traxys is proud to be the catalyst in enabling the reach of Africa’s most significant tungsten producer, Trinity Nyakabingo Mine, to a consumer of the caliber of GTP.”

Today’s event was attended by US Ambassador to Rwanda Eric Kneedler and Deputy Rwandan Ambassador to the United States Arthur Asiimwe.

Trinity Metals was formed in 2022 by merging three historic mines, Nyakabingo Tungsten Mine, Rutongo Tin Mine and Musha Tin and Tantalum Mine making it the largest producer of conflict-free and child labor-free critical minerals in Rwanda.  Trinity has also discovered a highly prospective Lithium deposit called Ntunga on its Musha concession.

It is also the first operating mine in Africa to secure technical assistance funding from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to support environmental and social governance (ESG) initiatives across its operations.