Rwanda initiates digital mining licence registration
Rwanda’s mining sector is set to go digital. This is seen with the introduction of an electronic registration platform to apply for and acquire mining and exploration licenses digitally. The move aims to improve the services offered by utilizing technology.
The Rwanda Mining, petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) who initiated the digitized process said the move is set to commence on April 15, 2024 and will replace the manual process of applying for licenses and permits for mining and excavation activities.
Process of registration
The process will be conducted under the new system called Geological Information and Mining Cadastral System (GIMCS). RMB offers two types of licenses: mining and excavation, which depend on the surface area covered (long term and short term). Applicants will need to open an account in the system, which takes approximately 10 minutes if all required documents are readily available. This includes proof of payment of license fees, which vary depending on the type of license.
Once an application is submitted, the responsible team will directly see it in the system and automatically send the applicant a reception message, which will be reflected in their emails or phone messages.Depending on the type of license applied for, the processing time will range from one month to 10 days, representing a reduction in the time for application and feedback.
RMB plans to integrate the license fees payment service with the Irembo pay platform, an e-government digital payment platform, to facilitate easier payments. Among the benefits of shifting to the digital side include; reduction of the loss of documents sent via email, streamline case-by-case follow-up, and allow sector players to submit quarterly reports more easily.
