The newly-elected mining committee for the Southern Province has been tasked to adopt environmentally-friendly mining practices and fight illegal operations.

This was during the elections for the new committee by members of Rwanda Mining Association (RMA). They will serve for three years.

RMA chairman Jean-Malic Kalima said the new committee should work with determination, diligence to ensure that it addresses challenges facing the mining sector.

"There might be one or few companies to blame for the malpractices in the sector, but we should together address the issue because it is tarnishing our image (as the mining association),” he said.

Kalima called for collaboration between mining companies and local authorities to fight illegal mining.

Major (rtd) Robert Rugamba, was retained as the chairman of the committee.

The new committee consists of the chairman, two vice presidents, the secretary, the treasurer, two auditors and three advisers.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has previously said that  about 70% of fatal mining accidents were due to illicit mining practices fuelled by corruption.

Juvenal Kayihura, the ministry’s inspector of mines in the Southern Province, challenged the mining association to ensure miners have protective gear to minimise fatalities.

"The extraction of minerals should be base on reports of geologists on mineral availability to facilitate informed planning,” he said.

Kayihura also advised mining companies to filter minerals properly and avoid contaminating water  bodies.

About 70% of the minerals are said to remain in soil or water after filtration due to rudimentary techniques.

Nyabarongo River is one of the water bodies which have been affected by mining activities, especially through debris from the mines.

Kayihura urged the miners to modernise the sector so that minerals can be collected efficiently.

Rugamba promised that the new committee will do its best to address concerns of environmental degradation and other issues linked to mining in the Province.

He appealed to his colleagues in the new committee to work as a team to meet its goals.

Lack of enough skilled geologists to carry out research on minerals before mining activities kick off and lack of credit facilities were cited among the main challenges facing the sector.

A small mine is required to have Rwf70 million, a medium one Rwf700 million and the big one Rwf3.5 billion to be allowed to start mining, according to Rugamba.

The new committee was tasked to make timely reports on the performance of the mining sector and other emerging issues for timely remedies.

The Southern Province boasts of 54 licensed mining companies and the number is projected to hit 70 by the end of the year.

Last year, Rwanda’s mineral export earnings were $203.32 million.