Pact and partners shine a light on Rwanda’s mining sector

Every day anywhere from 41,000–82,000 AA batteries are used at mines across Rwanda. That adds up to 15–30 million batteries a year. The batteries power handheld lights, known as torches. Miners use these torches to light their way in underground tunnels, which can be up to 400 meters, or about a quarter of a mile, long.

The problem with AA batteries is that they don’t last very long. Research conducted by Pact in 2021-2022 under the Illuminating Small-Scale Mining in Rwanda project found that most power a hand torch for less than a day. Some only work for hours. Miners never know when a hand torch will stop working, so they can find themselves underground when their light goes out. For most miners, this means stopping work and leaving the mine to find replacement batteries. This has a significant impact on their productivity, which is directly tied to their earnings. The more you produce, the more you earn. Poor lighting also increases the likelihood of accidents such as slips and falls.

For women, when the lights go out, there are more worrisome things in the shadows. Gender-based violence and harassment are prone to thrive in poorly lit conditions. The prospect of being harassed in these situations has kept many women from applying for the more lucrative jobs inside the tunnel. Instead, they have opted for positions like washer, which are done above ground.

Our research also revealed that AA batteries are taxing on the environment. Rwanda doesn’t yet have a way to recycle the used batteries, so they end up in the trash. This contributes to environmental and health issues for surrounding communities.

We set out to find a better way to provide more reliable lighting for miners that would also be more environmentally friendly. 

Local solutions make an impact

Over the following year, Pact engaged companies, such as Mesh Power Rwanda and Schneider Electric, with products that could potentially fit the bill. A significant challenge identified early on was that the lighting solution had to stand up against the high levels of dust and humidity that exist inside the tunnels.

In July 2023, we began pilot testing a rechargeable headtorch at two mine sites in Rwanda, one owned by Generation Mining Development Company (GMDC) and the other by Inter-African Mining Corporation. We collected data on the current status of lighting, safety and productivity at the sites so that we could better track progress and impact once the rechargeable headtorches were in use.

According to miners at GMDC, the rechargeable headtorches have been a gamechanger.

“Before, batteries would run out and as a woman, it made me feel unsafe,” said Christine Uwamahoro, a miner at GMDC who is also in charge of safety in the tunnels. “I feel safer in the tunnels now with headtorches. Even with power cuts, we’re okay because of the headtorches.”

Uwamahoro also shared that when the battery-powered hand torches would go out, there were many slips and falls because of poor lighting. She’s seen fewer accidents of this kind since switching to the rechargeable headtorches because they can easily see slippery areas and hazards in the tunnel path.

Improved lighting not only contributes to safety gains, but it is an absolute necessity for many aspects of mining according to Angelique Yankurije, a mine engineer with GMDC who oversees all operations at the site. It is necessary to properly see veins, deposits of minerals that form within rocks. It is also crucial for the safety of workers and discouraging gender-based violence.

“Good lighting helps you see differences in valuable minerals versus others,” agreed Munyawera, a mine technician in charge of extraction at GMDC’s site.

Overcoming challenges

One of the primary barriers to using rechargeable headtorches more widely is the cost. A hand torch powered by AA batteries is relatively inexpensive at around $1 per torch, while a tested and proven quality headtorch is nearly $20. That cost is out of reach for most miners.

To tackle this issue, the project is also testing two financing models. 

In one model, the mining company purchases the headtorches for miners on their site. For companies who need it, they can approach formal financial institutions for financing options. This is a much easier process for a company than for individual miners. For Vestine Kamugwera, owner of GMDC mine piloting this financial model, moving away from AA batteries was an opportunity she saw to contribute to sustainable development, something she’s keen to do with her company.

Under the second model, miners purchase and bring their own equipment to the site. They also use the headtorch to light the path home at the end of the workday and can use it at home when power cuts leave them in the dark. 

A hurdle for most miners in securing assistance from formal financial institutions is the lack of employment agreements in the mining sector. We’re working with Inter-African Mining Corporation to pilot contracts with miners so that the banks see a commitment for employment, thereby increasing the assurance for payment and reducing the risk of providing a loan to a miner. This is one way we’re working with local banks to make their products more accessible to miners.

A bright future

The full scope of the impact of rechargeable headtorches will be available after the pilot concludes in March 2025 but initial signs indicate an overall positive impact on safety, productivity and more.

The Rwanda Mining Board is eager for more mines to make the switch away from battery-powered hand torches, particularly as it aligns with the government’s strategy for transitioning to green technology.

“We have more than 200 mines in Rwanda. We wish all small-scale mining sites would adopt this program,” said Jean d’Amour Bagilijabo, Director of the Inspection Unit at Rwanda Mining, Petroleum and Gas Board.

With the project’s support, GMDC also recently installed solar panels at the mine site to further Kamugwera’s commitment to sustainable development. Most mining companies use diesel generators at their sites. Switching from a nonrenewable resource such as diesel to solar power is not only beneficial to the environment, but it saves money in fuel costs in the long run.

For Dr. Polycarpe Nshimirimana, head of the ISMR project at Pact, he’s proud of what has been accomplished so far and eager to do more.

“We are proud that we’ve been able to raise awareness of the negative impact of AA batteries and generate demand for headtorches while connecting them [miners] to supply, although more needs to be done on this side,” Nshimirimana shared.

“I hope this project is an example for others and improves the mining sector overall. It is a must for shifting to greener operations. There is no cost too high to improve the health and safety of people’s lives.”

Below, use your cursor to take a 360° tour of GMDC's small-scale tungsten mine in Rwanda.