• IN THE STOPE
generally conserved their capital rather than venturing into new mineral projects . However , there were still some large miners looking for help from experienced geologists with local knowledge , and he decided to form an independent firm – Onyx Consulting – where he assumed the role of managing director .
SRK era begins By this time , SRK Consulting had been active in the DRC for many years , through its offices in South Africa and elsewhere in the world . The company had been formed in Johannesburg in 1974 and had grown rapidly to over 40 offices worldwide and about 1 400 professional staff . In 2010 it opened an office in Lubumbashi , and Sambwa was among the first on its staff as a geological consultant – a role that continues alongside his chairmanship today .
“ One of the main attractions for me was being part of a global network of practices , and having access to colleagues with experience from so many different countries ,” he said . “ Joining SRK was such an enriching experience , exposing me to a wide range of projects with various factors to consider – even though it took some time to adapt .”
He highlighted the new working environment that faced him , especially the client ’ s expectation that he would fulfil the role of solution provider – to find fresh and effective ways of mitigating risks .
“ The transition to consulting was perhaps inevitable , though ,” he quipped . “ When applying for professional positions , I was told that
I was ‘ over-qualified ’ – so that did make me wonder if there were any jobs out there for me !”
His first decade with SRK has been a busy one , with dozens of greenfield and brownfield projects around the DRC ranging from quality assurance and quality control compliance to best practice , data management , Geographical Informations Systems ( GIS ), and project management . Resource estimations and reviews have been among his regular contracts , including data collection and verification as well as exploration monitoring and supervision . This has been facilitated by his extensive experience of the geological landscape , his familiarity with government protocols and legislation , and his command of French , English , Swahili and Lingala .
Serving the DRC today “ One of the most important contributions SRK is making to the development of mining in the DRC is the quality and integrity of our work ,” says Sambwa . “ In the geological field , for instance , it is vital that the exploration and mining data generated by mining operations is accurately reported in line with accepted standards .”
He emphasised that professional organisations of Congolese scientists and engineers are growing , leading to the need for improved control of their professional practice . These organisations are even starting to consider developing a reporting code specific to the DRC , for instance . For now , though , he said there are accepted codes under the auspices of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy ( SAIMM ) –
28 • African Mining • February 2022 www . africanmining . co . za