$10m Granite factory to open next year

NYAGATARE – A US$10million (approx: Rwf6b) granite factory, jointly owned by the government and a Chinese firm, Union Stone, is set to open in Rutaraka Cell in Nyagatare Sector. East African Granite Industry in Nyagatare District will commence operations early next year, officials said. According to Dominique Rugwizinkindi, a technical engineer at the factory, construction works are already complete. “All machinery and other equipment are fully installed. We are optimistic that, by the end of this year, or in early January, next year, the factory will be operational,” he said. The factory will extract granite rocks with porphyry-construction materials, which are normally imported to Africa from China and United Arab Emirates. Eng. Rugwizinkindi said the factory will process construction stones that are similar but less expensive than those imported from China and UAE. “The factory products will be cheaper compared to imported ones; it eyes the East African market where such products are imported,” he pointed out. Rugwizinkindi further explained that over three sites have been discovered in Nyagatare Karongi and Gicumbi districts to mine the raw materials. “One of the extraction sites we discovered in Nyagatare can serve the factory with stones for more than 40 years. There are some more in the Northern and Western provinces,” he noted. The new factory will use modern machinery and equipment that will not lead to any environmental degradation, according to officials at the factory. dan.ngabonziza@newtimes.co.rw

National

$10m Granite factory to open next year