Rwanda Calls for Green Mining As a Solution to Environmental Degradation

On 04 December 2015, Rwanda joined the world in celebration the International Mining Day. The day was an occasion for the government to raise awareness on mining activities carried out nationwide and their contribution to national development.

Themed “Green mining as the pillar of growth and sustainable development,” the day mirrored the government’s model of efficient, safe and sustainable mining sites that are profitable and environment friendly.

It was an opportunity for miners and other stakeholders to meet and interact with potential investors, members of the private sector (insurance companies, banks, etc.) to devise ways to deliver sustainability and enhance the sector’s profitability. They also discussed strategies to ensure environment conservation through ‘Green Mining’.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources in partnership with the Rwanda Mining Authority (RMA).

The State Minister of Mining in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Evode Imena, said that the discussions with stakeholders in the mining sector also focused on how the industry can be more resilient to external shocks, most essentially those caused by price fluctuations.

“As we transform the country’s mining sector, all the stakeholders starting from mining companies and mine workers have committed their engagement in conserving, protecting and promoting the environment,” State Minister Evode Imena said, emphasizing that today, the focus is to alleviate the harmful effects of mining on land, water, forests and people.

Rwanda’s Mining Sector contributes to the country’s macroeconomic stability. To optimise investment in the sector, the government has reduced the time it takes to process an application for a mineral or quarry license and the management of mining titles through a modern mining cadaster.

Source: allafrica