Rwanda's Cabinet has approved a new organizational structure that will allow the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) to operate as an independent institution, the government said on October 26. The move is intended to strengthen oversight of the mining sector and support its growing contribution to the economy. The RMB had been placed under the supervision of the Rwanda Development Board in July 2025 as part of a wider institutional review, before the latest decision to grant it independence.
Rwanda's mineral export earnings have grown substantially. The country recorded $1.75 billion in mineral exports in 2024, up from approximately $373 million in 2017. The government has set a target of generating $2.17 billion annually from mineral exports by 2029. According to the United States Geological Survey, Rwanda ranked as the world's third-largest tantalum producer in 2024, accounting for 15% of global production, while also ranking sixth in tungsten production and eleventh in tin production.
RMB, established through presidential order in 2023, is responsible for issuing mining licenses and regulating and managing mineral, quarry, oil and gas resources. Its duties include monitoring compliance by license holders, conducting geological research, overseeing exploration and mineral processing, inspecting operations, imposing administrative sanctions for violations and monitoring the value-addition and trading of mineral products. As the mining industry expands, the regulator's ability to oversee extraction, enforce standards and ensure that mineral resources deliver lasting economic benefits will become increasingly important.
The government is promoting mechanization, exploration and mineral processing as ways to increase productivity and move beyond dependence on extracting and exporting raw materials. Rwanda has established gold refining, tantalum refining and tin-smelting facilities, creating capacity to process minerals locally. RMB Chief Executive Officer Alice Uwase said on October 20 at the Mining in Motion Conference in Accra, Ghana: 'We are moving toward mechanized extraction, on-site beneficiation, and advanced value addition, with refining facilities for gold, tin, and tantalum already operational in Rwanda.'
For savers and investors in Rwanda, the regulator's independence could mean stronger oversight of mining operations and more predictable licensing processes that support long-term sector growth. Rwanda Mining Week is scheduled to take place at the Kigali Convention Centre from December 9 to 11 under the theme 'Powering the Future: Mechanization, Scale and Sustainable Growth in Mining.' The program will include the launch of Rwanda's Geoscience Laboratory and Mining Investment Pitchbook, bringing together policymakers, investors, mining companies and technology providers.