The Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) has issued a safety notice to all mining operators, warning of increased risks associated with heavy rainfall expected from September 2026.
In a notice, RMB said weather forecasts from Meteo Rwanda indicate that Rwanda is expected to experience an unusual El Niño season characterised by heavy rainfall. Mining operators have been directed to strengthen safety measures at their sites to prevent accidents, mine collapses, flooding and other hazards linked to the rainy conditions.
Required measures include installing proper roofing or covering mine shafts and entrances, conducting daily inspections of work areas, and ensuring all workers wear personal protective equipment while on duty. RMB also requires underground mines to have at least two exit routes. Mines that do not meet this requirement must suspend underground operations during the rainy season.
Operators without an established emergency response system have also been instructed to establish standby rescue teams. The notice further requires mining companies and cooperatives to conduct daily comprehensive risk assessments, particularly in areas vulnerable to erosion, water runoff, cracks, unstable ground and geological weaknesses that could lead to mine collapse.
Operators have also been ordered to immediately report hazards that cannot be eliminated, close off dangerous areas and install clear warning signs to prevent access. RMB is additionally urging mining operators to strengthen security against illegal mining activities, prevent employees from taking part in illegal operations and report suspected incidents to authorities.
The measures are intended to reduce risks to miners as Rwanda enters a potentially hazardous period of heavy rainfall.
Mining Remains an Important Economic Driver
The safety measures come as Rwanda’s mining industry continues to strengthen its role in the national economy.
Official data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda shows that mining and quarrying grew by 17 percent in 2025, contributing to the industrial sector’s overall expansion. In the first quarter of 2026, the sector grew by a further 20 percent compared with the same period in 2025.
The sector is also a major source of export earnings. According to RMB, Rwanda recorded approximately US$1.75 billion in mineral export revenues in 2024, up from US$373 million in 2017. The country has set a target of reaching US$2.17 billion in annual mineral export revenues by 2029 under the National Strategy for Transformation 2. With mining contributing to export earnings, industrial growth, employment, and economic diversification, maintaining safe and uninterrupted operations is important to Rwanda’s wider economic ambitions.
