Mining in Rwanda
What Rwanda mines
Most output comes from the 3Ts: tin (cassiterite), tungsten (wolframite) and tantalum (coltan). Rwanda also produces gold and gemstones, and exploration is under way for lithium, beryllium and rare earth elements.
Three plants add value in the country: a gold refinery, a tantalum refinery and a tin smelter. RMB has also run pilot processing tests at nine sites and sees room for lithium and tungsten refining and more gemstone cutting.
The sector in the economy
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Mining and quarrying value added, 2025 | RWF 437 billion (1.9% of GDP) |
| Growth in 2025 | +17% |
| Growth, second quarter of 2026 | +26% |
| Mineral exports, 2017 | USD 373 million |
| Mineral exports, 2024 | USD 1.75 billion |
Mining was one of the three largest sectors for investment registered with RDB in 2025, with real estate and manufacturing.
Plans for the sector
- A three-year national exploration campaign, started in 2023, focused on gold and lithium.
- More mechanisation, which RMB expects to lift extraction efficiency from about 40% to 80%.
- More processing in Rwanda before export.
- Better access to finance for new and existing operators.
Sanctions and due diligence
Mineral supply chains in the Great Lakes region are closely watched. Buyers and investors should run full due diligence on origin and ownership, and screen every counterparty against current sanctions lists.
- On 17 March 2025 the European Union added Gasabo Gold Refinery to its sanctions list.
- On 25 June 2026 the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Gasabo Gold Refinery LTD and three mining companies, Bugambira Mines, Wolfram Mining and Processing and Rwinkwavu Mining Corporation, for links to illicit mineral trade from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
These measures apply to the named companies and people, not to the sector as a whole. Check the official lists before each transaction, as they change.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Rwanda earn from minerals?
USD 1.75 billion in 2024, more than four times the USD 373 million of 2017. NST2 targets USD 2.17 billion a year by 2029.
What minerals does Rwanda produce?
Mainly the 3Ts: tin, tungsten and tantalum. It also produces gold and gemstones, and exploration is under way for lithium, beryllium and rare earth elements.
Who licenses mining?
The Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB).
What checks should investors run?
Full due diligence on the origin and ownership of minerals, and screening of every counterparty against current sanctions lists.
Sources
- Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board: How Rwanda’s mining sector is powering towards the NST2 USD 2.17 billion goal
- Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board: Rwanda’s critical minerals for the green transition
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: GDP national accounts 2025
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: GDP national accounts, second quarter of 2026, tables
- Rwanda Development Board: Strong performance across investment, exports and tourism in 2025
- European Union: EU Sanctions Tracker, Gasabo Gold Refinery
- U.S. Department of the Treasury: Treasury sanctions Rwandan gold refinery and network, 25 June 2026
Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
