Desert Gold Ventures Inc. announced a major step forward in the development of the company's Byumba Gold project in Northern Rwanda. In first quarter of 2016, the company applied for a commercial mining license at its Byumba gold deposit. Along with the mining license application, the company submitted a Plan of Operation to the Rwandan Ministry of Natural Resources. The company announced that MINIRENA, in co-operation with the State Department of Geology and Mines, has accepted the company's proposal and on December 13, 2016 issued the company a commercial gold mining license. Details of Mining License Application: The new title under the exploitation license will be named Rutare; The mining license is valid for a period of 10 years with an option to renew; The Rutare permit covers a 375 hectare block and encompasses the entire gold prospect; and the Rutare permit is located a two hour drive from the capital Kigali accessible by paved highway.