Last month, the Copperbelt Mining Trade Expo & Conference (CBM-TEC) was held in Kitwe, featuring 92 exhibitors, 1600 visitors, 140 conference delegates, including Zambian Vice President Dr Guy Scott and Mining, Energy and Water Development Minister, Hon. Christopher Yaluma, helping to “put the Copperbelt on the map” in terms of the global mining industry.
According to the conference organisers, CBM-TEC showed significant appetite for these kinds of events.
“We clearly identified a specific need and gap in Zambia’s vital mining industry and managed to fill it with a world class exhibition, high-level attendees as well as a very practical, relevant programme which all contributed to CBM-TEC’s real impact. Certainly our expectations were exceeded and we are delighted by the overwhelming welcome we received by Zambia, the mining community and the local media,” says programme director Nicole Smith.
According to Smith the focus of the CBM-TEC conference was on building a world-class and sustainable mining industry with Zambia poised to increase copper production over the coming years.
She adds: “society as a whole must look at issues such as how to manage the environment but also on how best to engage Zambians and Zambian business-owners and manufacturers in the supply chain, so that the mining sector becomes the impetus for stimulating Zambian manufacturing and it becomes the enabler of the growth of Zambian SME’s who can service the sector. There was discussion throughout on how to balance the ratio of local vs. foreign participation in the sector. Also crucial to the growth and sustainability of the industry were the questions around training best practices for the industry and how to create a skilled job force.”
The high-level representation from government and industry proved to organisers that the country is serious about taking the Copperbelt forward according to CBM-TEC’s Nicole Smith. The Vice President, the Hon. Dr. Guy Scott, provided the keynote address and conducted the official opening of the exhibition.
He said the environmental agency’s responsibility was to ensure compliance to environmental requirements by all industries and economic players. He urged the mining companies to continue dialoguing with the government in an open, frank and transparent manner. “Let’s be open, let’s be honest, let’s be Zambian. We are not making life difficult for your mining companies, we have obligations to the people… if we do not speak frankly and openly, rumour mongers will start spreading falsehoods about our operations,” Dr Scott said. He said the government was prepared to work with the mining industry for the good of the country.
Dr Scott was accompanied by Zambia’s Minister of Mining, Energy and Water Development, Hon. Christopher Yaluma, who provided a special address to the conference on the outlook and vision for Zambia’s mining sector.
Says Smith: “it was encouraging to see the excellent participation of key directors within the mining ministry over the two days and the opportunity that was given to the delegates to have a question and answer session with the minister. Another highlight was on day two where we had a snapshot from the key operators in Zambia talking about their expansion projects – on the panel were FQM, Barrick Lumwana, Chibuluma and Lubumbe.”
The Minister of the Copperbelt, the Mayor of Kitwe, the District Commissioner and 11 Directors from the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development. Furthermore there was representation from all the operators: Mopani, Barrick Lumwana, Chibuluma, Lubambe and Konkola Copper Mines. There was also a delegation from the DRC, headed by the VP of the Chamber of Mines in DRC, which provided an excellent opportunity for engagement on cross border issues and opportunities.
Apart from putting the Copperbelt on the map, the mining hub of Kitwe certainly experienced a transformation with the invasion of the CBM-TEC expo and conference. Says Nicole Smith: “Kitwe is a gateway to most of Zambia’s mining region where the operations are based. It was a strategic decision to bring a professional attendance event to the Copperbelt and thereby creating connectivity across the mining value chain. We received many compliments from attendees, exhibitors and sponsors, particularly regarding the quality of the visitors that were walking the expo floor.”
Source: Adapted from CBM-TEC press release
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