Overwhelming support
for DRC mining sector
THE concluded Democratic Republic of
Congo Mining Week has been described as
a success aer attendance doubled from
the previous edition.
Held in the country's mining hub of
Lubumbashi, a record number of more
than 500 visitors from 35 countries
attended the conference and exhibition.
Some 94 local and international companies
showcased their technology and services
for the sector in the indoor and outdoor
exhibition areas.
e exhibition included a large South
African pavilion brought to the event by
the South African Department of Trade
and Industry.
"Creating the DRC Mining Week and
combining the longstanding mining events
iPAD DRC and Katanga Mining Week
have proven hugely successful," says the
event director, Elodie Delagneau,
"e visitor numbers and the support from
the industry show that we have once again
provided a forum that is meeting the needs
of the mining sector."
DRC Mining Week provided four days of
high-level networking, free training and
the latest technologies, including a Power
Focus Day, two-day conference, busy
technical workshops, indoor and bigger
outdoor expo, the Mining Industry
Awards, CEO roundtables, B2B speednetworking and site visits.
e newly-appointed Provincial Minister
of Mines from Haut Katanga, H.E. Kitobo
Samsoni, made a welcome appearance and
attended the closing session of the strategic
conference. e current governor of
Katanga Province, Jean Claude Kazembe,
attended the opening session and handed
over the Lifetime Achievement during the
DRC Mining Industry Awards to Louis
Watum, Managing Director of Ivanhoe
Mines.
Ivanhoe also won the Clean Energy Project
of the Year while Tenke Fungurume was
named Mining Company of the Year for
the second year in a row. e Banro
Fo u n d at i o n w o n t h e C o m mu n i t y
Development and Local Content category.
It is the third year that mining pioneers and
leading companies in the DRC were
rewarded at what have become coveted
DRC Mining Industry Awards.
FMDZ | May - June 2016
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