Rwanda encourages Environmental friendly Mining

by: Ange de la victoire Dusabemungu

Modern techniques in mining sector improve productivity

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ince 1930, Rwanda invested in Mining Industry. The main concern was to address the growth of country’s economy and to increase the income among Rwandan population.

The underground part of Rwanda contains important minerals such as cassiterite, coltan, wolflam and gold. Additionally, Rwanda has other construction materials such as amphibilite, granites and quartzite, volcanic rocks, clay, sand and gravel. Minerals are among activities that contribute to the country’s development.

For the past seven years, the Rwandan economy has benefited enormously from the mining industry. Revenues have increased from $10 million USD in 2003 to $96.4 USD in 2010 and the year 2011 is projected to generate up to $ 100 USD. Since 2006, mineral productivity has been increasing due to the fact that the Government of Rwanda privatized the mining concessions and encourages the use of modern techniques as a way to increase productivity. 

Today a growing number of people are joining Mining Sector and many jobs have been created locally.

On one side, Mining contributes a lot in the Economic growth and on another side it can also contributes to the Environment destruction.

In order to define ways of adding values to our environment and protection of people ,before starting activities that would result in environmental degradation such as Mining investers should work under a basic EIA( Environmental Impact Assessment)- A procedure that ensures that environmental consequences of project are identified and assessed before Authorization is given.

This approach is a way to direct Miners to evolve from illegal mining system that have previously degraded Environment and help them to adopt legal mining system.

In this way, Rwanda’s miners will register increased mineral productivity and also immensely contribution to the long term conservation of Environment for sustainable Development.

To keep sustaining mining Industry and Environment protection the Rwanda Geology and Mining Authority also encourages all people working in Mining Sector to give up the culture of Mining in disorder and join Rwanda Mining Forum in order to be able to access more knowledge on geological and mining issues and get loans that will facilitate their daily activities.

Francois HAKIZIMANA, a Miner at Rutongo Mining Complex is an example of those who have already joined co-operatives where he benefits from Government support.

“A Miner is all my life”, HAKIIMANA said.

“The government has played a positive role for workers in Mining industry. The government helps by maintaining safety precaution and introducing new and efficient equipment” he said happily.

“A long with this, the government provides security and regulation so that nothing is damaged.” Hakizimana appreciated.