Burundi law firm Shonubi, Musoke and Gilbert & Partners managing partner Gilbert Nibigirwe states that Burundi’s political conflict, which mainly occurred in the capital city of Bujumbura in April and May, did not have a direct impact on mining activities, but security and risk factors have had a negative, albeit indirect, impact on mining activities.
General elections were due to take place on June 29 and Presidential elections were due to take place on July 15, and the outcome is unpredictable, says the law firm.
Norton Rose Fulbright states that there are vast mining opportunities in Burundi, especially in terms of coltan, cassiterite, tungsten, gold and nickel, which remain underexploited besides nickel. In addition, there are no refineries for any of these minerals. The big challenge in Burundi remains the lack of electricity, says the firm.
In October last year, metals company Burundi Mining Metallurgy International, in a joint venture with the Burundi government, began mining nickel at the Musongati mine.