We had a great meeting in the well-manicured capital city of Rwanda, Kigali, with Mr. Jean Malic Kalima, a leading entrepreneur in Rwanda and Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Rwanda. We got a warm welcome and received helpful information about business opportunities in this fast-growing country. One of his many activities includes Wolfram Mines in Rwinkwavu, where he generously organized a private visit for us guided by mines coordinator Mr. Aristarque Murara.
Tungsten is a grayish-white metal with a high melting point. Its current uses are electrodes, heating elements, field emitters, and filaments in light bulbs and cathode ray tubes. Tungsten is commonly used in heavy metal alloys such as high-speed steel, from which cutting tools are manufactured. It is also used in the so-called ‘superalloys’ to form wear-resistant coatings.
Mr. Murara explained the historical background of mining activities and showed us the mines and processing facilities. The discovery of the Rwinkwavu deposits by the Gargarathos brothers dates back to the 1930s. It is possible to say that in 1945, the systematic and methodical exploration and exploitation of the Rwinkwavu deposit started. 1974, the concession was transferred to SOMIRWA (Société des Mines du Rwanda). SOMIRWA’s production (1977-1985) totaled 1290 tonnes of SnO2 concentrate and 4.4t tungsten concentrate (probably ferberite concentrate). SOMIRWA went bankrupt in 1985, and the Rwandan state took over responsibility for most of the country’s mining companies. In February 2008, the company was privatized and sold to the Rwandan Wolfram Mining and Processing Ltd.
Parking location – Rwinkwavu: 1.970726S 30.607571E (🅿️,🚻)