Burundi is rich in underexploited mineral resources, among which rare earths occupy an increasingly strategic position. These elements are essential for new technologies and the manufacturing of modern equipment. Among the companies involved in this field, Bakagem Mining Burundi stands out as a leading national player, with a strategy focused on sustainable mining, local inclusion, and the development of the Burundian sector.
Bakagem Mining Burundi: A Large-Scale, Multi-Site Operation
Bakagem Mining Burundi mines rare earths on a large scale, through several mining projects located in different provinces of the country. Its activities are not limited to extraction: they also include supporting local development, job creation, and equitable profit sharing with local communities.
Strategic Partnership with the Tuzamurane Bigwa Cooperative
It is within this framework that Bakagem discovered a rare earth deposit, thanks to its collaboration with the Tuzamurane Bigwa Cooperative and other cooperatives that it finances and supports, in line with its commitment to the social and solidarity economy.
This cooperative directly operates the mining sites, with logistical, financial, and technological support from Bakagem Mining, in the following locations:
Bujumbura
Ruyigi
Bururi
Kayanza
Rumonge
Rutana
These areas have been identified as containing minerals containing light rare earth elements and are currently undergoing extraction, advanced prospecting, and geochemical analysis programs.
A responsible and integrated mining model
Bakagem Mining Burundi’s approach is based on several pillars:
Controlled and environmentally friendly mining,
Valorizing local cooperatives as key partners,
Contributing to public revenues and Burundi’s economic development,
Strengthening local skills through training.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ZVTjvZtJR/
Through these workshops, Bakagem Mining Burundi regularly shares the results of its work, its geological analyses, and its technical advances, in a transparent and collaborative approach with stakeholders (authorities, communities, researchers, investors).
Outlook: Building a value chain for rare earths in Burundi
The mining of rare earths should not be limited to the extraction of raw concentrates. In the medium term, Bakagem Mining Burundi plans to contribute to the establishment of a local processing unit (refining, oxide separation, packaging), enabling Burundi to capture a greater portion of the value generated by its natural resources.
This model is based on:
Social responsibility,
Cooperation with local organizations (cooperatives and others),
A long-term vision of industrial development
Conclusion
Bakagem Mining Burundi, in collaboration with the Tuzamurane Bigwa cooperative and others, has conducted structured and large-scale rare earth mining in several key locations across the country. This partnership exemplifies an inclusive, sustainable, and locally anchored mining development model that places Burundi on the global map of strategic resources.