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Policies

Ministerial Regulations No 002/2012/MINIRENA of 28/03/2012 on the regional certification mechanism for minerals

Last updated: 30 January 2025

This ministerial regulation, enacted in Rwanda in 2012, establishes a regional certification mechanism for minerals in the Great Lakes Region, aiming to prevent illegal mineral exploitation and ensure proper tracking of designated minerals (cassiterite, wolframite, coltan, and gold). 

Key provisions of the regulation:

Application and Certification. The mechanism mandates that designated minerals must be mined, traded, exported and imported in accordance with International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) standards. Beginning 15 December 2012, all mineral exports require an ICGLR certificate issued by authorised government agents.

Mine Site Inspections and Classification. Mine sites are categorised under a three-tier system:

  • Green-flagged (certified): Full compliance with standards
  • Yellow-flagged: Minor non-compliance issues requiring correction within six months
  • Red-flagged: Major non-compliance, resulting in suspension of operations

Traceability and Documentation. Minerals transported outside licensed mining areas must be accompanied by proper documentation showing their origin, with complete chain of custody records from mine site to export point.

Trading Centres and Requirements.

  • Traders must be commercially registered
  • Trading centres must be designated by the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority
  • Monthly reports of purchases and sales must be submitted to relevant authorities

Enforcement and Penalties. Fraudulent mineral trade is subject to penalties under Law no. 37/2008 on mining and quarry exploitation. Fraudulent minerals are impounded and handled by the Geology and Mines Department.

Regional Database and Monitoring.

  • Establishment of mine site database
  • Creation of exporters database
  • Development of mineral tracking database
  • Regular sharing of information with ICGLR Secretariat

Independent Auditing. An ICGLR Independent Mineral Chain Auditor (IMCA) is empowered to conduct investigations throughout the mineral supply chain, with full cooperation required from all stakeholders.

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