South African presence at DRC Mining Week in Lubumbashi indicates strong interest in DRC mining sector

“Renewing the presence of the South African National Pavilion at the DRC Mining Week positions South African companies as leading players in the mining and power sectors and will allow them to enhance their presence in the region, and for new companies to increase the South African foothold in the DRC.” This is according to Eric Bruggeman, CEO of the South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC), that is bringing a strong delegation of South African suppliers to the DRC Mining Week conference and exhibition, that is taking place in Lubumbashi, in the hub of the mining province of Katanga, from 23-24 June.

The SACEEC is a public/private partnership between the capital equipment industry and the South African Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) and currently services more than 140 member companies in manufacturing and allied services, representing a major proportion of the capital equipment industry in South Africa.

According to Mr Bruggeman: “the DRC is potentially one of the richest mining countries in Africa. The country was the world’s fourth largest producer of industrial diamonds during the 1980s, and diamonds continue to dominate exports, accounting for nearly half of exports.”

He continues: “trade relations between South Africa and the DRC are showing positive growth from a relatively low base, with bilateral trade being heavily skewed in South Africa’s favour due to limited productive capacity on the part of the DRC’s economy. In response to the extended period of globalisation, the focus has now swung to localisation and South Africa and South African companies are looking at ways to provide long-term and meaning partnerships with companies within the DRC.”

He says Lubumbashi, where the DRC Mining Week is taking place, “is the second largest city in the DRC and sets the stage for a business-to-business forum of facilitated sessions and meetings with key stakeholders. The SACEEC will also be looking at establishing a business centre in Lubumbashi to assist South African companies doing business in the country.”

South African companies at DRC Mining Week include:

SACEEC members as part of the SA National Pavilion:
- AZMET – Engineering Services
- AZ-Armaturen – Lubricating Plug Valve and Sampling Valves
- WEBA Chutes – Chute designed
- Fabchem – Dome plates, Pumps

SACEEC members as individual exhibitors:
- FL Smidth
- Aard Mining Equipment

SA Companies as part of the National Pavilion:
- African Mixing Technologies – Pumps & agitators
- Hose manufacturers – Boreline, flatlay
- APE Pumps – Pumps
- Nitralife – Nitrogen generators
- Tru-Trac Rollers – Conveyor Equipment
- Turner Morris - DRIVE units, generators, Bio-mixers, Conveyors
- OE Bearings – SRB Brandsplit Roller, Bearing housing support, Hanger units, Flanges

The full interview with Mr Bruggeman can be viewed on the event website.

DRC Mining Week
Around 1200 mining professionals are expected to gather for the practical annual mining and industrial expo again as the award-winning DRC Mining Week conference and exhibition returns to Lubumbashi, in the heart of the DRC’s mining hub, from 23-24 June. While retaining its main focus on mining, the event will also broaden its scope to include a focus on related and complementary sectors such as agriculture, energy and construction.

Industry recognition and support
As with previous editions of the event, DRC Mining Week has secured impressive industry support through the diamond sponsorships of Engen and FBNBank and the platinum sponsorships of Gecotrans, Sodexo, Standard Bank and Tenke Fungurume Mining, while Aggreko, Atlas Copco, Axishouse, Copperbelt Energy, Earth Networks, ERG, Ivanhoe Mines-New Horizons and Vodacom are confirmed as gold sponsors.

Earlier this year, DRC Mining Week was recognised for its support of the Kinsevere Community School Project in Lubumbashi when it was named a finalist in the Social Responsibility category of the AAXO ROAR Organiser and Exhibitor Awards, which honour excellence in the exhibition and events industry on the continent.

DRC Mining Week:
Pre-conference Power Focus Day: 22 June 2017
Conference and expo: 23-24 June 2017
Site visit: 22 June 2017
Location: The Pullman Lubumbashi Grand Karavia Hotel, Lubumbashi, DRC

DRC Mining Week is organised by Spintelligent, a leading Cape Town-based organiser of exhibitions and conferences across the continent in the infrastructure, real estate, energy, mining, agriculture and education sectors. Other well-known events by Spintelligent include African Utility Week, Agritech Expo Zambia, Kenya Mining Forum, Future Energy East Africa (formerly EAPIC), Future Energy Nigeria (formerly WAPIC), Future Energy Central Africa (formerly iPAD Cameroon), iPAD Nigeria Mining Forum and EduWeek. Spintelligent is part of the UK-based Clarion Events Group.

Senior communications manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Office: +27 21 700 3558
Email: annemarie.roodbol@spintelligent.com
Website: http://www.drcminingweek.com
PO Box 321, Steenberg, 4794, South Africa

This release was published on openPR.