Rwanda will partner with Burundi in establishing an association that will help to develop the mining industry, by bringing key players and government authorities together in the fight.

 

The collaboration between the countries will aim at strengthening and coordinating the relationship of the mining sector in both countries, according to the officials.

 

The delegation led by, Burundi's Director of Mines and Quarries at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Damien Mbonincyuye, currently visited Rwanda for three days on a learning tour, where they visited Rwandan mining sites and witnessed progress on issues regarding formalisation of artisan mining.

 

While paying a visit at Gifurwe Tungsten Mine in Burera district, Mbonincyuye and his team realised that in Rwanda, there is substantial progress as far as this issue is concerned. We acquired important information about how to improve on our standards back home.

 

According to him, Burundi has the ability to train geologists but lacks sufficient mining centres, where students can acquire practical techniques on careers building.

 

Elly Safari, the official in charge of Operations and Logistics at the Gifurwe Mine, in Rwanda also saw the need to fast track the cooperation,

 

Burundi and Rwanda are partners within the framework of the Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources (RINR).

 

The progress in Rwanda shall be illustrated in Burundi through a Burundi-Rwanda technical exchange programme for key mining sector stakeholders. This will help to support regional peer learning on responsible mining practice in the artisan mining sector of the Great Lakes region.

Source : allafrica.com