Joint Press Release
Rwandan tin smelter qualifies for RMI certification as a conflict-free Smelter
Kigali, 21 February 2020 – LuNa Smelter, the only tin smelter in East Africa, has been qualified for Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP), the flagship programme of Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI).
The successful assessment validates smelters’ company-level management processes for responsible mineral procurement.
According to the evaluation, LuNa Smelter is fully compliant with the requirements of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chain of Minerals, as well as meets the demands of the mineral certification scheme of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
As a response to the above, Prof. Dr Radoslaw Miskiewicz, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of LuNa Smelter, said: “This is a sign that LuNa Smelter adopts best due diligence practices in order to operate in a safe and responsible manner that respects the environment, employees, customers and the communities in which the company operates.” He also added that LuNa Smelter seeks to source responsibly while producing highest-quality tin ingots, so the entire company philosophy is one of value generation with special focus on CO2 trace limitation along with the sustainable development of the region.
“This comes as a confirmation to what we have always proven to the world: Rwanda is a conflict-free source of minerals.
We have implemented different measures including the deployment of tag managers at mining concessions to seal and record minerals produced in order to efficiently monitor and contain potential illegal dealing in minerals,” said Francis Gatare, the CEO of Rwanda Mines, petroleum and gas Board (RMB). “This achievement is in line with the government’s 7-year programme “National Strategy for Transformation” and contributes to the responsible, sustainable and environmentally friendly development of the mining sector.”
Rwanda is re-designing the mining sector in order to transform mining resources into key motors of the country’s growth during the National Strategy for Transformation.
The mining sector in Rwanda is going through a transition, as many other African countries, moving from its traditional nature of small-scale exploitation with limited links to the rest of the economy to being a major foreign currency earner.
Through this, Rwanda has a vision to become a regional mineral processing hub, adding value to minerals mined in Rwanda and the region before exporting them.
It is in this line that LuNa Smelter was established in 2018 by a European Industrial Group – Luma Holding in partnership with a Rwandan Investment Group – Ngali Holdings to meet best industry standards and, after successful commissioning in 2019, the Smelter began producing high quality tin ingots.
Press Contacts:
Mr Robert Nowak
Managing Director
LuNa Smelter Ltd
Mobile: +250784527430
robert.nowak@lunasmelter.com
www.lunasmelter.com
Press Contacts:
Vital KARANGWA
PR & Communications Specialist
Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board
Mobile: +250788783834
vital.karangwa@rmb.gov.rw
www.rmb.gov.rw
