ITSCI and the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) took the opportunity in organising a mine site visit on 17 October 2018 for the 150 delegates attending the 59th Tantalum Niobium International Study Center (T.I.C.) in Kigali, Rwanda. This allowed for the General Assembly chance to see ITSCI traceability and due diligence up close and first-hand.
H&B, a company that has been operating under ITSCI since 2011, hosted the delegates. H&B exploits two mine sites in Rwamagana district, producing cassiterite and mixed minerals. In small groups, delegates observed various parts of the mining processes: extraction of minerals at a tunnel, washing at cemented sluices, reprocessing of tailings at a new processing plant where a large percentage of minerals are recovered, and weighing and tagging.
“This visit is a good opportunity to show the origin of minerals produced in Rwanda, as most delegates are not acquainted with the mining context in the country,” said Jean Malic Kalima, chairman of the Rwanda Mining Association.
T.I.C. delegates visiting H&B mine [Photo: Pact]