1996
Founded
Who We Are
A Rwandan mining company built on responsibility, inclusion, and steady growth.
GMDC began as a small cooperative and has grown into a recognized mining company by combining operational discipline with strong community values.
Today, the company is known for tungsten production, ethical practices, workforce development, and championing women's participation in mining.
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Woman-owned leadership
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Responsible tungsten production
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Commitment to worker welfare
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Long-term national contribution
What sets GMDC apart
GMDC combines responsible production, people-focused leadership, and long-term national contribution in a way that makes the company more than a producer. It is a platform for inclusive industrial growth.
Our History
From a cooperative of miners to a trusted operator.
Founded in 1996, GMDC began as a cooperative of around 20 miners. Over the years, the company has grown into a woman-owned employer and exporter by investing in people, safer operations, and responsible mineral production.
1996
Founded
~20
Original miners
27+
Years operating
450+
Workers today
1996
The company begins
GMDC starts as a cooperative of roughly 20 miners with a shared commitment to honest work and local opportunity.
Growth
Operations expand
The business scales through better organization, stronger production discipline, and sustained investment in people.
Today
Trusted and export-ready
GMDC now stands as a recognized employer and tungsten producer contributing to Rwanda's mining transformation.
Vision, Mission & Core Values
The principles that guide every decision.
Vision
To be a model mining company in Rwanda and the region, recognized for ethical practices, gender inclusion, operational excellence, and sustainable mineral production.
Mission
To responsibly extract and produce high-quality tungsten while empowering workers, supporting communities, promoting women in mining, and contributing to Rwanda's long-term economic development.
Core Values
Principles that shape the way we operate.
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Integrity and transparency
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Safety and human dignity
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Sustainability and environmental responsibility
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Inclusion and gender equality
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Continuous improvement and professionalism
Our Strategies
How GMDC builds long-term value.
These priorities help GMDC grow responsibly while staying aligned with people, production quality, and national development.
01
Operational Excellence
Improve production consistency, processing quality, and equipment readiness to deliver dependable mineral output.
02
Inclusive Growth
Expand opportunity for women, workers, and surrounding communities through dignified employment and skills growth.
03
Responsible Production
Advance safety, transparency, and environmental care to build long-term trust with regulators and partners.
Our Products
Minerals produced with traceability, care, and market readiness.
GMDC's product focus reflects Rwanda's strategic mineral potential and the company's commitment to disciplined, high-quality output.
Product 01
Tungsten
GMDC's flagship mineral, produced to meet quality, traceability, and export expectations.
Product 02
Tin
Responsibly handled within disciplined mining operations that support Rwanda's broader mineral economy.
Product 03
Tantalum
Produced with close attention to ethical sourcing standards, quality control, and market readiness.
Leadership
Vestine Kamugwera
Managing Director – GMDC Ltd
Leadership
Leadership grounded in inclusion and progress.
“Under Vestine Kamugwera's leadership, GMDC has grown while staying committed to ethics, worker dignity, and stronger participation of women in mining.”
Vestine Kamugwera is a pioneering leader in Rwanda's mining sector and a respected voice advocating for modernization, inclusion, and sustainability. She entered the mining industry in 1996 at the age of 21 and has over 20 years of hands-on experience across all levels of mining operations. Under her leadership, GMDC has grown from a small cooperative into a large-scale employer and exporter, while maintaining strong ethical and social values.
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Championing women's participation in mining, with a goal of achieving at least 30% female representation within GMDC.
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Advocating for improved access to bank financing for mining companies to enable equipment upgrades and operational efficiency.
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Promoting worker welfare, safety, and dignified working conditions.
Her work and leadership have been featured by regional and international platforms including Forbes Africa, Pact, and Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board.