Rwanda

2024 Report

Full data release with tables here.

In 2024, Rwanda was the world’s 3d-ranked producer of tantalum, accounting for 15% of global production; 6th-ranked producer of tungsten, accounting for 1.5% of global production; and 11th-ranked producer of tin, accounting for 1.4% of global production. Other mineral commodities produced in the country included cement, clay, gold, lime, peat, pozzolanic materials, sand and gravel, steel, crushed stone, dimension stone, and tourmaline. Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). In fiscal year 2024 (which began on July 1, 2023, and ended on June 30, 2024), the mining and quarrying sector accounted for 1.8% of Rwanda’s gross domestic product. Total exports (including re-exports) were valued at \$3.2 billion in 2024, of which gold accounted for 47%; niobium and tantalum, 3.1%; mined tin, 3%; and tungsten, 1.1%. Total imports were valued at \$5.5 billion in 2024, of which gold accounted for 26.6%; construction materials (including cement and metals), 4.3%; and fertilizers, 1.1% (National Bank of Rwanda, 2024a–b ; 2025a, p. 207; Friedline, 2026a, b; Saloum, 2026). 

The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Rwanda is provided by the 2024 Mining Law (law No. 072/2024) of June 26, 2024, on mining and quarrying operations, which repealed the Mining Law (law No. 58/2018) of August 13, 2018. The 2024 Minerals Tax Law (law No. 056/2024) of June 26, 2024, establishes the tax on minerals and repeals the Minerals Tax (law No. 55/2013) of August 22, 2013. Presidential Order No. 028/01 of May 18, 2023, stipulates the guidance for the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), which oversees the mineral sector and creates the policies and regulations governing the mineral, quarry, and petroleum, and gas resources. The RMB issues licenses for exploration, mining, processing, and trading of mineral, petroleum, and gas resources; oversees the compliance of mining license holders according to Rwanda’s mining laws; advises the Government; conducts research and exploration; and monitors operations related to the mineral sector. Most mineral commodities were produced by domestic private companies and artisanal miners. The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities (Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board, 2023, p. 1, 7–10; 2024a, p. 16; 2024b, p. 153). More-extensive coverage of Government policies and programs can be found in previous editions of this chapter in the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports—International—Africa and the Middle East, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/afric…;

Commodity Review 

Niobium and Tantalum.—In 2024, the production of columbite-tantalite concentrate was estimated at about 1,300 metric tons (t). The production of columbite-tantalite concentrate was estimated at 300 t. Columbite-tantalite was mined in the Bugesera, Burera, Kerongi, Kirehe, Nyabibu, Nyamasheke, Rubavu, and Ruhango Districts (Production table and Facilities table). In 2024, cassiterite production was 6,485 t, of which 4,861 t was exported. Trinity Metals Group produced cassiterite at the rate of between 480 and 840 metric tons per year (t/yr) at the Rutongo Mines and between 360 and 480 t/yr at the Musha Mines. Production was 5,844 t in 2023. Domestically mined cassiterite had an average tin content of 63% (Production table and Facilities table; National Bank of Rwanda, 2024a; Trinity Metals Group, 2025). 

Wolframite.—Wolframite production increased to 2,741 t from 2,502 t in 2023. Trinity Metals Group produced between 1,200 and 1,300 t/yr of wolframite at the Nyakabingo Mine in Rulindo District. The average content of tungsten in the Nyakabingo Mine was 66% to 70% (Production table and Facilities table; Trinity Metals Group, 2025). 

Production table

(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)

References Cited 

• Friedline, C.A., 2026a, Tantalum: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 186–187. 

• Friedline, C.A., 2026b, Tin: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 194–195. 

• National Bank of Rwanda, 2025a, Annual report 2024-2025: Kigali, Rwanda, National Bank of Rwanda, 221 p. (Accessed December 1, 2025, at https://www.bnr.rw/documents/Annual_Report_2024_25_English_Full_Version…;

• National Bank of Rwanda, 2024a, Monthly exports of goods 2013–July 2025: Kigali, Rwanda, National Bank of Rwanda. (Accessed December 1, 2025, via https://www.bnr.rw/documents/Monthly_Exports_CAAjAdb.xlsx.)