Rwanda's mineral deposits remain largely untapped: report

Mineral deposits in Rwanda remain largely untapped, providing opportunities for investors, a report from the Rwanda Environment Management Authority has revealed.

The Rwanda State of Environment Report 2016 released on Friday says Rwanda is believed to have vast mineral deposits of gold, tin, tungsten, coltan and gemstones, but the total reserves are still unknown due to limited exploration.

Speaking to reporters after the launch of the report, Minister of Natural Resources, Vincent Biruta, said Rwanda's mining industry was still unexplored.

"Our country is endowed with mineral wealth, but due to minimal exploration, vast mineral deposits are largely untapped," Biruta said.

He said the government aimed to attract foreign investment into the mining sector and increase its contribution to GDP, exports and job creation.

The report says that over the past five years a few companies have engaged in mining exploration in Rwanda and now they are trying to get licensed to explore further.

Official figures Rwanda has issued mining permits to 213 mining entities.

The report says that in 2014 mining revenues in Rwanda were valued at 251.2 million U.S. dollars, up from 164.7 million U.S. dollars in 2011.

It says that in 2014 Rwanda exported a total of 16,357 tonnes of cassiterite, coltan and wolframite and other minerals.

The government has named the mining sector as a major area for development in order to achieve its national plan, Vision 2020.

It aims to increase the value of mining exports to 400 million U.S. dollars a year by 2018. Endit