{"id":56448,"date":"2025-12-02T20:53:49","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T20:53:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/more-than-90-000-rwandans-employed-in-mining-sector\/"},"modified":"2025-12-08T12:23:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T12:23:55","slug":"more-than-90-000-rwandans-employed-in-mining-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/more-than-90-000-rwandans-employed-in-mining-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"More than 90,000 Rwandans employed in mining sector"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The four-day event has brought together global investors, policymakers, mining companies, financial institutions, tech innovators and development partners to explore Rwanda\u2019s growing position in the global critical minerals landscape.<\/p>\n<p>In his address at the Kigali Convention Centre, Dr. Nsengiyumva praised the sector for its continued contribution to national development and highlighted progress in improving professionalism, environmental management and adherence to international mining standards. <\/p>\n<p>He reaffirmed the government\u2019s commitment to maintaining a stable and transparent regulatory environment that encourages responsible investment and supports both workers and operators.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour efforts demonstrate that mining can indeed be a driver of sustainable development,\u201d the Prime Minister said, urging the sector to continue prioritising good governance, technological upgrading and community welfare.<\/p>\n<p>While the Prime Minister referenced only the latest employment figure, data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) shows the broader trajectory of the sector\u2019s recovery. During the Covid-19 pandemic, mining jobs fell by 19 per cent, dropping to 57,379, down from 71,205 workers in 2019. In 2017, the industry employed 47,727 people. The rebound to over 92,000 jobs marks the strongest recovery in nearly a decade.<\/p>\n<p>The sector\u2019s rapid expansion is also reflected in export performance. Rwanda\u2019s mineral export revenues have grown from $373 million in 2017 to $1.75 billion in 2024, with the government targeting $2.17 billion by 2029, driven by rising global demand for critical minerals essential to modern technologies.<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s Rwanda Mining Week adopts the theme \u201cMinerals for a Smarter and Greener Future,\u201d highlighting the importance of critical minerals in the global transition to clean energy and advanced manufacturing. Rwanda continues to position itself as a reliable supplier of strategic minerals, supported by strengthened partnerships with investors, researchers and development institutions.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Nsengiyumva said the country is committed to playing its part as a \u201cprincipled, responsible and reliable partner\u201d in the global low-carbon transition.<\/p>\n<p>He called for deeper collaboration and meaningful discussions aimed at advancing the sector\u2019s contribution to Rwanda\u2019s economic transformation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-98555 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/153a8408.jpg\" alt=\"Prime Minister Dr Justin Nsengiyumva opened the 8th Rwanda Mining Week on Tuesday, noting that the sector now employs more than 92,000 Rwandans.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-98556 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/153a8244.jpg\" alt=\"The four-day event has brought together global investors, policymakers, mining companies, financial institutions, tech innovators and development partners to explore Rwanda\u2019s growing position in the global critical minerals landscape.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-98554 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/153a8429.jpg\" alt=\" Dr. Nsengiyumva praised the sector for its continued contribution to national development and highlighted progress in improving professionalism, environmental management and adherence to international mining standards. \" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-98551 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/521a0339-enhanced-nr.jpg\" alt=\"Prime Minister Dr Justin Nsengiyumva tours the exhibitions at Rwanda Mining Week held at KCC.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-98549 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/521a0351-enhanced-nr.jpg\" alt=\"Rwanda\u2019s mineral export revenues have grown from $373 million in 2017 to $1.75 billion in 2024, with the government targeting $2.17 billion by 2029.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-98552 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/153a8537.jpg\" alt=\"This year\u2019s Rwanda Mining Week adopts the theme \u201cMinerals for a Smarter and Greener Future,\u201d highlighting the importance of critical minerals in the global transition to clean energy and advanced manufacturing. \" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-98550 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/ndpa8317.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rwanda\u2019s mining sector now employs more than 92,000 Rwandans, Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva said on Tuesday as he opened the 8th Edition of Rwanda Mining Week 2025, underscoring the industry\u2019s expanding role in the national economy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000098548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[75],"byline":[192],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-56448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-62","tag-homenews","byline-wycliffe-nyamasege"],"bylines":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":131}],"contributors":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default 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