The Rwanda Mines, Petroleum, and Gas Board (RMB) has secured a €4.1 million (Rwf5.16 billion) project aimed at reducing the environmental impact of mining activities. The project was launched on Monday afternoon at the EU-Rwanda Business Forum and was attended by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente.
Funding for the project, set to be implemented until 2025, was provided by the European Union Delegation to Rwanda (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Yamina Karitanyi, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum, and Gas Board, emphasized the significance of the funding in helping Rwanda achieve a high level of compliance with occupational health and safety standards, as well as social and environmental protection.
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"Insufficient mining and processing skills, along with limited adoption of modern technology, have been identified as the main challenges hindering the potential growth of Rwanda&039;s mining sector," Karitanyi said.
She further highlighted that the prevalent use of rudimentary tools contributes to low productivity and inadequate mineral processing, resulting in a considerable percentage of minerals being left unrecovered in tailings.
Karitanyi also acknowledged the adverse effects of mining activities on the environment, as well as the health and safety of miners and nearby communities.
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The project aims to enhance the investment attractiveness of Rwanda by achieving several outcomes, including improved traceability of mineral flows in compliance with international standards, digitalized mining sector services, development of training curricula for mining professionals, and the promotion of safer mining practices for the environment and all stakeholders.
"This project is one of the key drivers in our objective to boost investment, create decent jobs, and foster sustainable and diversified growth," Karitanyi added.
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With approximately 120,000 employees, Rwanda&039;s extractive sector plays a critical role in generating export revenues and foreign exchange for the country.
In the first quarter of 2023 (January to March), mineral exports from Rwanda amounted to $247,480,699, according to the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum, and Gas Board (RMB), indicating a 52.3% increase compared to $448 million (approximately Rwf486 billion) in the January-November 2022 period.