Rwinkwavu and Gifurwe Wolfram mines have been audited for compliance with due diligence guidelines on independent verification and risk assessment.

The audit, which was carried out by the Accredited Independent Mineral Chain 3rd Party Auditors for International Conference on the Great Lakes Regions (ICGLR), is in line with ICGLR’s objectives of the pact on security, stability and development that approved the six tools of the regional initiative to curb illegal exploitation of natural resources in the Great Lakes region.

Peter Karasira, the chairperson of the ICGLR audit committee in Rwanda,  told The Saturday Times yesterday that the Regional Certification Mechanism (RCM), along with its key organs – the Independent Mineral Chain Auditor and the Third Party Audits – formed a core tool of the regional initiative.

"We accredited four renowned 3rd Party auditors to do the verification. We are here to accompany the accredited auditors. They represent a critical component for the functioning and integrity of the ICGLR certificates,” he said.

Venant Nsanzimfura, the coordinator of geology and mining department at the Rwanda-ICGLR mineral export certification office, said export certificates were issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources, but when  doubts came up, 3rd Party independent auditors were invited to carry out their own verification.

"Before getting an ICGLR mineral export certificate, there are four things involved. The mine must comply with ITSCi and international due diligence, the mineral supply chain must be traceable through tagging, the system must be audited by ICGLR and the system must also be audited by an independent auditor from outside the region,” he said.

Auditors Dr Caspar Fithen and Michael Finlay said they were impressed with what they saw at Gifurwe and Rwinkwavu wolfram mines.

"We were impressed with the supply chain process at the mines. They are making efforts to adhere to the guidelines of ICGLR,” Fithen said.

"These are extremely well-run mines,  with a high level of safety precautions. We inspected the mine sites through to the logging and tagging processes…the administration is good.”

The Due Di‌ligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals ensure that companies respect human rights and avoid contributing to conflict through their mineral purchasing decisions and practices.