Gov’t seeks to add value to minerals

KIGALI - As part of improving the mining sector, the Minister of Mines and Forestry, Christophe Bazivamo, has revealed a plan to establish mineral processing factories to economically utilise unexploited resources found in many parts of the country. Among the factories in the pipeline is a tile and glass making factories, among others. “We have rich clay in some parts of the country which can be turned into tiles. We also have stones that can be used in making glasses. We just need the right partners to start processing these materials out of them,” pointed out Bazivamo in a telephone interview with Sunday Times The Minister added that there was a factory in Ryabega in Nyagatare district already. “The only challenge we have been facing is power shortages, but we have liaised with RECO (Rwanda Electricity Corporation). It allowed allocating 5 megawatts to the mining processes and this will boost the initiative,” he observed “It might take some time to complete these factories, but in a few years they will be fully established and will greatly enhance the mining sector in adding value to our minerals.” He added that there are other casseterite processing factories some of them not working due to power shortages, but the advent of peat as an alternative source of energy is going to boost them. Also in the pipeline is a book defining all the mineral resources found in Rwanda, the products that can be got from them and their economic importance. This will highlight the availability and potential in the country’s minerals to both the local and foreign investors. Ends