Katanga Mining Week (Pic By Twitter)
The organisers of the hugely successful iPAD DRC and Katanga Mining Week have announced that the two longstanding mining events in this country are to merge into one strategic show, namely DRC Mining Week in Lubumbashi from 8-9 June next year.
“Thanks to the support of the DRC mining community and government, we have seen iPAD DRC and Katanga Mining Week develop and evolve over the years into enormously successful events”, says Emmanuelle Nicholls, Portfolio Director, DRC Mining Week. “However, we have always listened to what the industry wants and needs and we have to take it to the next level, which is the creation of a single, all-encompassing event, in the heart of the DRC’s mining hub.”
”The response from the mining community to the launch of DRC Mining Week has been very enthusiastic: It will be the only mining expo and conference providing market intelligence, strategic solutions and innovative technologies for mining operations. It will combine the best of both events; namely the engagement with government and key stakeholders at iPAD DRC, and the practical expo and face-to-face interaction with key operators, exploration companies and EPCs at Katanga Mining Week. DRC Mining Week will strive to provide such a complete platform for networking.”
This year, a record total of more than 800 attendees were at both events during October. Another successful feature of iPAD DRC that will be continued next year are the coveted, annual DRC Mining Industry Awards which will take place for the third time during DRC Mining Week on 8 June.
Last month, the awards once again formed a highlight in Kinshasa when some of the industry’s best known companies and pioneers were honoured for their contribution to the sector, including Randgold Resources Limited’s double win with CEO Dr Mark Bristow awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award and winning as the industry’s Best Performer in Occupational Health and Safety.
Tenke Fungurume Mining also won two awards: as Mining Company of the Year and for Best Performer in Environmental Management. Soraya Aziz Souleymane, former deputy director of The Carter Centre was named Mining Woman of the Year, a new award category this year.
The DRC’s Ministry of Mines was an official supporter of iPAD DRC and Katanga Mining Week this year and the event secured impressive industry support again through the diamond sponsorship of Ivanhoe Mines as well as Banro Corporation, Engen, Standard Bank and Tenke Fungurume Mining as platinum sponsors, while Aggreko, Andritz Hydro, Senet and Tiger Resources Limited were gold sponsors.
RC Mining Week is organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.