The country is set to inaugurate its very first tin refining plant in the southwestern region next month, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to enhance capacity and add value to its mineral resources domestically. President Yoweri Museveni’s initiative aims to maximize the benefits of exports by fostering local processing, complementing existing gold refineries and recent investments in limestone mining for cement production.
Irene Bateebe, Permanent Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Development Ministry, confirmed the imminent launch of the tin processing facility, highlighting Uganda’s commitment to value addition in the mining industry. Woodcross Resources, a Uganda-based mining and mineral trading company, owns the plant and will refine tin to over 99% purity, positioning Uganda as a key player in the global tin market.
With a tin mining license covering 40 square kilometres in Western Uganda, Woodcross Resources is poised to significantly contribute to the country’s mining sector growth. The tin refining plant boasts an annual capacity of over 1,000 tonnes, underscoring Uganda’s potential as a hub for mineral processing and export.
The launch of the tin processing plant signifies a new era of economic development and resource utilization for the country.
