President Paul Kagame on Friday visited Nyakabingo Mine in the Shyorongi sector of Rulindo District, the country’s largest producer of wolfram and one of the most productive sites of its kind in Africa.
The mine, operated by Trinity Metals Group, employs more than 1,800 workers and has nearly doubled its output over the past three years, according to the president’s office.
Wolfram, also known as tungsten, is a critical mineral used in aerospace, construction, military hardware and electronics. Rwanda is among the top six global exporters of the mineral, with the Nyakabingo site accounting for 1,107 of the 1,200 metric tons exported by the country in 2024.
The mine was first discovered in the 1930s, and since 2022 has been under the management of Trinity Metals, which has modernized its operations by introducing advanced machinery and safety systems. Officials say no lost-time incidents have been reported at the site for more than seven months.
Currently, Nyakabingo produces about four metric tons of wolfram per day, roughly filling a 24-ton shipping container every six days for export.
During his visit, Kagame commended the site’s contribution to the national economy and workforce. Some employees reportedly earn more than 7 million Rwandan francs (about $5,700) per month, depending on their productivity.
In a separate development, Trinity Metals signed a preliminary export agreement on May 13 with U.S.-based Nathan Trotter, a long-established trader in the tin and tungsten market. The signing took place at the U.S. State Department and was attended by senior American energy and minerals officials.
With an estimated reserve that could last another 40 years, Nyakabingo remains a cornerstone of Rwanda’s mining sector and a key part of the government’s strategy to attract foreign investment and increase value-added mineral exports.
