MPs’ Reaction about Rwanda’s Govt Projects Mineral Revenues to Triple

Rwanda's revenues from mineral exports are set to triple - from US$136.6 million (over Rwf87 billion), in 2012, to US$409 million (about Rwf261 million), by 2017, according government projections.

MP Jean Baptiste Zimulinda said that contrary to what foreigners believe, it is "simple logic" that Rwanda has lots of minerals, especially since all its neighbours have them.

Zimulinda said: "Be it in the west, in Karongi, or many other parts of the country, we have minerals. But apart from that, it is just simple logic. It can't be that, Uganda, Tanzania, Congo [DRC], and Burundi, have many minerals and we have none."

Like many other lawmakers, MP Charles Kamanda commended government for putting emphasis on the sector's development "as it can do very much in liberating Rwandans from the bondage of foreign aid."

According to the Premier, latest preliminary findings, in four areas - Nyagatare, Kirehe, Muhanga and Nyamagabe out of the 21 country zones suspected to have substantial mineral deposits, indicate that the country has gold, copper, zinc, lead, silver, rare earth elements, tin, niobium, tantalum and tungsten. A Germany company called "BEAK" has finished exploration.

"We believe that the results from this research will add clarity and increase the number of potential investors in mining," the Premier said.

Rwanda's economy was, in the past, centered on coffee, tea and tourism but the mining sector has increasingly attracted more attention.

The government has prioritised addressing challenges such as local capacity in terms of skills and high-level expertise, illegal mining, information on the available mineral wealth, and others.

The Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) - Kigali announced recently that it had introduced a mining course, Advanced Diploma in mining that is expected to produce skilled technicians in the field of mining.

This makes it the first institute in the country to offer this course which will help in bridging the skills gaps.

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