How Modern Equipment and Skilled Workers Transformed Rwanda’s Mining Sector in 2024

The mining sector, including minerals, petroleum, and gas, reports that modern equipment and skilled workers have significantly contributed to increasing production in the industry.

This comes after data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) revealed that mining output grew by 45 percent.

In Kigali city at Masoro, in the special industrial zone, there is a gold and silver refinery processing these minerals before they are exported to the international market. The refinery, known as Gasabo Gold Refinery, is one of three facilities in Rwanda that process and adds final value to minerals for international trade. Overall, mining production has significantly grown this year, as evidenced by data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda.

The growth is largely attributed to initiatives by the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), which includes the introduction of modern equipment and the training of skilled workers in mining.

Mining is part of the industrial sector and plays a significant role in the country’s economy.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence SEBAHIZI, explained that they aim to continue attracting major investors in the mining sector to sustain the growth of its contribution to the economy.

He stated, “Mining is a sector that still has more potential. We need to attract more investment in the mining sector, but more importantly in the value creation and value addition. When you add value to minerals, you are creating wealth; you are creating value for the economy. We see value addition in mining, value addition in industry, and value addition in agriculture as the ones that will contribute to the growth of GDP.”

“That’s why when we monitor the growth of a sector, we monitor based on the value that has been created.”

Data from the National Institute of Statistics shows that industrial production increased by 14.7 percent when comparing November 2024 to the same month in 2023. Mining output showed the most significant increase within the industrial sector, growing by 45.2 percent.

Other industrial sectors also saw growth, including manufacturing at 18.4 percent, water supply and sanitation at 12.8 percent, and electricity production at 9.6 percent.