Sandvik is platinum sponsor for upcoming Copperbelt Mining Trade Expo

24/04/2014

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Global mining giant Sandvik is platinum sponsor for upcoming Copperbelt Mining Trade Expo and Conference in Kitwe next week

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Zambian mining trade event enjoys high-level Zambian support

Global mining giant Sandvik, platinum sponsors for the upcoming Copperbelt Mining Trade Expo and Conference (CBM-TEC), is currently building a high-tech, multimillion dollar facility in Kitwe, where the event takes place from 28-29 April. The company’s Accounts and Applications Manager – Central Africa, Andrew Maree, says the facility will be one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in Zambia and will include a training centre with simulators, state of the art workshops, up-to-date component repair facility and a highly efficient logistics hub. Maree adds: “we’re very excited about this project. Construction is under way and will be completed in December 2014. This new facility will be a huge step in improving safety, productivity and cost to our customers.”

“Resilience of mining industry in Zambia is amazing”
Zambia’s Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development, the Hon. Christopher Yaluma, will be the keynote speaker at CBM-TEC, which is organised in association with Electra Mining Africa. The event consists of a two-day strategic and operations-focused conference as well as a professional attendance expo with free technical workshops and presentations aimed at engineers, geologists and plant managers, addressing technical and practical issues in the Zambian mining sector.

Sandvik Mining’s Andrew Maree: “some of the main challenges in the mining industry in Zambia are in the area of skills. Sandvik has always seen this as an integral part of our business and will continue to upgrade training facilities in order to, once again, improve safety, productivity and costs for our customers.”

He adds: “the resilience of the mining industry in Zambia is truly amazing. The global business slump in 2008 was really tough on the industry when the copper price went as low as $3000 per tonne. The copper industry managed to pull through this very well and then had some good times with copper prices going up to over $1000 a tonne in late 2011. I am sure that the present slump with the copper prices hovering between $6,600 and $6,700 will also be weathered with the resilience that we have seen in the past.”

“High level of investor confidence”
What advice would he give a prospective foreign investor who is interested in investing in Zambia’s mining sector: “I think that some of the larger mining houses have already experienced the stability of their investments in the country, and this has resulted in a high level of investor confidence. This is then rolled out to the smaller businesses that support the mining industry. To the new investors, the mining industry is here to stay so come and create jobs for the people.”

CBM-TEC conference speaker highlights:

Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development, Zambia: Hon. Christopher Yaluma, Minister
Mopani Copper Mines, Zambia: Danny Callow, Chief Executive Officer
Kalumbila Minerals Ltd, Zambia: Mr Garth Lapperman, Resettlement and Community Engagement Manager
Zambia Environmental Management Agency, Zambia: Cliff Mgwata
FQM, Zambia: Gretchen Williams, Senior Geologist
Lubambe Copper Mines, Zambia: Gary Strong, GM
Chibuluma Copper Mines, Zambia: Jackson Sikamo, GM
Barrick Lumwana, Zambia: Guy Cordingley, Process Manager