Sebahizi made these remarks while addressing the National Forum of Political Parties, where he outlined the country's policies and strategies for enhancing international trade and economic cooperation.
In light of ongoing security issues in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), several countries have imposed sanctions on Rwanda, including trade restrictions, while overlooking the underlying causes of the regional problems.
For instance, the European Union has placed sanctions on Rwanda's Gasabo Gold Refinery, prohibiting it from trading gold within EU member states.
However, Sebahizi pointed out that these sanctions stem from Rwanda's decision to fill the economic gaps left by these countries. Through Rwanda's measures, the country now processes and exports its minerals directly, whereas these nations previously handled the processing.
Rwanda continues to strengthen its mining sector with several processing plants designed to add value to its minerals before export. These include the Gasabo Gold Refinery, which processes 96 tons of gold annually, LuNa Smelter, which melts 360 tons of cassiterite monthly, and Power Resources International Ltd., which processes 120 tons of coltan each month.
Sebahizi emphasized that raw minerals exported without processing are often seen as waste by the importing countries, even though these nations profit significantly from them.
'When we process these minerals ourselves, the countries that previously imported them lose out, which is why they are unhappy with the decision,' Sebahizi said.
The Minister also highlighted that many investors who had mining licenses in Rwanda once planned to export unprocessed minerals. However, they are now required to process the minerals domestically.
'Our gold is not sold to Europe. If you look at the numbers, you'll see that our refined gold is sent to Arab countries.
'The strategy is to find alternative markets so that if Europeans block our access to their market, we can take our products elsewhere. However, it's also possible for us to use these resources ourselves and start selling the finished products derived from our minerals,' Sebahizi explained.
The Minister reaffirmed that Rwanda's strategy is centered on processing all mined resources locally to create added value within the country.
"For example, we have many minerals used to make metals and glass. Today, we produce metals and glass ourselves. So, their sanctions don't mean much to us. In fact, we need them to help our industries grow. What they did is open our eyes and teach us a new kind of wisdom,' Sebahizi added.
Rwanda is rich in valuable minerals such as Wolfram, cassiterite, and coltan, which are used in tungsten, tin, and tantalum production. The country extracts between 8,000 and 10,000 tons of these minerals annually, with prices fluctuating based on market conditions.
In addition to these minerals, Rwanda also produces gold in regions like Gicumbi, Musanze, Burera, Nyamasheke, Rusizi, and Nyarugenge. The country also has sapphires in the western provinces and is conducting ongoing research into lithium and other minerals.
According to the Rwanda Mining Board (RMB), mineral exports in 2023 generated over $1.1 billion, marking a 43% increase from the previous year.
Rwanda's target is to reach $2.2 billion in mining revenue by 2029, with plans to increase the share of processed minerals from 40% to 80%.
IGIHE
