Rwanda's mineral exports brought in over $362 million (nearly Rwf 426 billion) between April and June 2023, according to the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum, and Gas Board (RMB).
Gold exports raked in more than $302 million (nearly Rwf 356 billion), emerging as the highest revenue source among all minerals, including cassiterite, coltan, wolfram, and others.
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During this period, the total volume of mineral exports reached 6,638,538 kilograms, valued at over $362,000,000.
Comparing the figures between the first and second quarters of 2023, there was an impressive 46.4 percent increase in mineral export revenue and a substantial 12 percent rise in volumes, according to the RMB.
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The export of about 4.7 tonnes of gold alone contributed over $302.6 million to the total.
Meanwhile, the country exported more than 1,144 tonnes of cassiterite, valued at over $18.8 million (approximately Rwf 22 billion), during the same period.
Coltan exports, amounting to 254 tonnes, generated $27.8 million (around Rwf 32.6 billion), while over 635 tonnes of wolfram yielded $8.4 million (around Rwf 10 billion).
Other minerals, weighing 4,267 tonnes, contributed more than $4.5 million (over Rwf 5.3 billion) to the overall mineral export revenue.
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In 2022, Rwanda recorded total mineral export earnings of over $772 million, a significant increase from $516 million in 2021.
As part of its ambitious goals, the country aims to achieve $1.5 billion in annual mineral export revenues by 2024. To this end, the government actively seeks to attract investments in the mining sector and positions Rwanda as a regional hub for processing and trading.