Rwanda Starts Tracking Conflict Metal Tantalum With Blockchain

Rwanda has turned to blockchain for tracking tantalum, a metal used in consumer electronics, in a bid to address concerns over conflict minerals in global markets.

Rwandan cabinet minister Francis Gatare, who is also CEO of the country's Mining, Petroleum and Gas Board, announced the blockchain project at a meeting of the Rwandan Mining Association on Oct. 16., saying the "New and innovative mineral traceability solution" has already been implemented "By at least one exporter from Rwanda."

Rwanda is one of the the world's primary exporters of tantalum concentrates, producing around a half of the global supply in 2014, according to Nature.

The blockchain platform will be used to track tantalum mined in Rwanda across the whole supply chain.

"Circulor will not only assist miners in Rwanda to adhere to strict guidelines laid out in international agreements to remove conflict minerals from the supply chain but will also record all the production stages before a smartphone or computer reaches the consumer."

Using blockchain and smart contracts technology to trace provenance is fast gaining traction in the mining industry.

In May of this year, De Beers carried out a blockchain trial tracking diamonds from mine to retail.

A gem-tracking blockchain application aimed at achieving a higher level of traceability in the luxury industry.

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