Glimpses from last year’s Propak West Africa as the region’s leading packaging trade show returns in 2025. (Image source: Propek West Africa)

West Africa’s leading exhibition and conference for the packaging, plastics, printing and processing industries, Propak West Africa, is set to take place from 9–11 September 2025 at the Landmark Centre in Lagos, Nigeria

Returning to Lagos for the 12th edition, Propak West Africa will bring together over 5,500 attendees for three action packed days in Lagos.With 250 global brands exhibiting, this years edition will be the largest yet and professionals from across the supply chain from industries working in the packaging, plastics, printing and processing industries will be in attendance.

As Propak has grown over the years it has continued to attract the biggest names in the industry from all corners of the globe, including BBM Maschinenbau, Danfra Solutions, Krones AG, Milacron India, Neofyton, Piovan Group, Reifenhauser Blown Film, Sacmi, Snetor and Windmoeller & Holscher among many others internationally.

The organisers are also delighted to welcome back many Nigerian exhibitors including Adeco Project Engineering, Ankan Group of Companies, Beaumont Industrial Services, E-One Machinery, JMG Ltd, Proxima, SBA Nigeria, Stav Ltd and Veepee Group among the largest contingent of Nigerian companies to date.

This September will also see the highest number of machines on display ever at the exhibition, with more than fifteen live in action including various forms of injection and blow mould machine, sachet, packing and weighing machines including some new to the West African market.

Taking place alongside the conference, there is a full range of conference and technical sessions for CEO’s and technicians alike to discover, learn and engage with thought leaders on multiple topics. The headline summit this year will look into topics around Shaping the Future of Packaging in West Africa on the first day with the third day focus on Access to Finance for Industrial Growth. Speakers on these stages come from the likes of Guinness Nigeria, Unilever Nigeria Plc, UAC Foods and FrieslandCampina to name just a few.

KPMG Nigeria are returning as strategic partners to run the dedicated sustainability focus day on the 10th September under the theme, Lifecycle Data Management for Sustainable Packaging Systems, which promises to engage the manufacturing community on ways such that data becomes an enabler of the circular economy.

With the exhibition now a little over two months away, the organisers have said there is much more to be announced over the course of the coming weeks and urge all those interested in staying in touch to register for the exhibition and be kept informed of the new conference sessions, exhibitors and features that are in store.

For more information visit: www.propakwestafrica.com

Minerals face growing demand

African Mining Week (AMW) 2025, which is scheduled for October 1–3 in Cape Town, promises to be a landmark event because it will impact the future of the African mining industry

The conference has the theme From Extraction to Beneficiation: Unlocking Africa’s Mineral Wealth, and it will bring both global and African mining stakeholders together at that time. Dialogue will be fostered, deals will be signed, and mineral demand will be addressed. Mineral production must rise by nearly 500% by 2050 in order to meet global demand, which is increasing—making Africa a key player in global supply chains.

A launchpad for mining projects

Through AMW 2025, a key platform, African mining projects will receive the necessary capital. African nations strive to produce more and beneficiate minerals to a greater extent, as the international community seeks new investment opportunities. Mining will help Zimbabwe build a US$12 billion economy by 2030; Angola expects diamond output to increase to 17.53 million carats by 2027; and Ghana aims for 8 million tons of manganese production by 2025. Meaningful investments will be required to achieve these ambitious goals, and AMW 2025 seeks to attract them.

Addressing challenges, exploring opportunities

Minerals face growing demand. Improved technology and sustainable mining practices are increasingly in demand. AMW 2025 will work to tackle key challenges facing the African mining sector. These challenges include securing capital, technology, and expertise. Important sessions include The Investor Perspective: Financing Africa’s Mineral Industrialization, Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships: Building Resilience, and highlights on cobalt, Botswana’s diamond legacy, Ghana’s gold, and South Africa’s PGM industry, which all build resilience. A Technology Forum will explore mining technology innovations that are youth-driven, including AI, robotics, and autonomous mining.

Strategic networking opportunities

AMW 2025 will offer many networking opportunities and will foster collaboration between global and African mining partners. Roundtable discussions will cover critical topics, including US-Africa Collaboration in Critical Mineral Infrastructure, China-Africa Cooperation on Critical Minerals, and European Partnerships in African Mining. The event will also feature a Women in Leadership Forum and a Junior Miners Forum, which will present opportunities for women and youth in the industry.

Navigating critical minerals gaps

AMW 2025 is positioned strategically to explore Africa’s role in the global energy transition, with the continent holding 30% of the world’s critical minerals. Africa will become a key driver of this shift as demand increases for vital minerals such as cobalt, lithium, and nickel.

DRC Mining Week 2025 signals shift toward sustainable, standards-driven mining future. (Image source: SRK Consulting)

Developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo show that the country’s mining sector is transitioning from volume-driven extraction to a more structured industry focused on global standards and sustainability

Reflecting on the recent 20th DRC Mining Week in Lubumbashi, SRK Consulting (Congo) chairman and geological consultant Dominique Sambwa said the event highlighted a range of positive signs that are underpinning the country’s future prospects as a mining giant. These included infrastructure for energy security, adoption of mining industry standards, and a peace agreement that could facilitate better access to mineral deposits.

“With the number of attendees reaching about 5,000 this year, the event was a significant forum for all stakeholders including government, who provided encouraging updates on progress in power and transport infrastructure projects,” said Sambwa. “These developments are essential in allowing mining companies to scale their operations, as well as for exploration efforts to access new areas – so that the DRC’s mining sector can continue to diversify beyond copper and cobalt.”

Lobito rail link

Among the key infrastructure projects underway was the Lobito Corridor – a rail link connecting the DRC’s mineral-rich regions with the Angolan port of Lobito – which is supported by the International Finance Corporation.

He highlighted the growing interest in lithium deposits such as Manono in DRC’s eastern region, and diamond prospects in central DRC. Investor interest is certainly increasing, he noted, with significant representation at the event from Western countries like the US.

“Everyone active and interested in the DRC has also been heartened by the moves to secure a peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda, as this could catalyse further investment and mining expansion – especially in areas that have been destabilised by military activity,” remarked Sambwa.

Clean power

The World Bank-funded phase 1 of Inga 3 hydroelectric scheme was another topical project discussed at DRC Mining Week that holds great promise for the future of mining, said Nicolaas Steenkamp, principal consultant at SRK Consulting (South Africa).

“Clean hydropower through a large scheme like this will facilitate considerable expansion of mining operations, by strengthening the availability and reliability of power through the main grid,” said Steenkamp. “Where it could replace costly diesel-generated power on mines, such an energy source could also make production costs more globally competitive, while helping mines to decarbonise as part of industry-wide sustainability efforts.”

He noted that the DRC’s cleaner sources of grid energy could also position the country’s producers as leaders in the move toward a preference for ‘green copper’ among customers pursuing the energy transition away from fossil fuels. The 240MW Busanga hydroelectric plant north of Kolwezi on the Lualuba River is among the most recent renewable projects to be commissioned. There are also a number of solar power developments underway on mines, aiming to harness renewable sources while stabilising on-site power supply and driving the green agenda.

Socio-economic impact

The mining industry’s recent trajectory in the DRC has been marked by local regulations to harness its positive impact on the economy and broader society, as well as by a growing acceptance of global standards – especially those related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns. The evolving regulatory framework hopes to nurture local suppliers and professional service providers to the industry, as well as improve relationships between mines and communities through more systematic engagement, said Sambwa.

“Subcontracting firms in mining must now be at least 51% owned by Congolese shareholders, and there are local procurement requirements for mining and service contracts,” he said. “Mining companies are also mandated to prioritise the employment of locals – to promote the integration of the domestic economy.”

Standards show the way

With international focus on the integrity and ethics of the mining supply chain, and led by major global players already active in the DRC, miners in the country are increasingly embracing industry standards, according to SRK Consulting (South Africa) partner and principal environmental scientist Wouter Jordaan.
“As a strategy to meet international best practice and mitigate risk – while also aligning with the requirements of the larger financial institutions and stock exchanges – we are seeing a definite trend in the DRC towards compliance with one or more standards,” said Jordaan. “Mining companies are recognising that they are part of a value chain is becoming more demanding.”

He added that standards like The Copper Mark and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) are not only well-recognised by others in the supply chain, but they provide mines with a clear and structured path to compliance. Other industry benchmarks are also coming into focus for players in the DRC, commented Malcolm Maber, partner and principal geotechnical engineer at SRK Consulting (SA).

“As exhibitors at DRC Mining Week, we engaged with many visitors about the requirements of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), especially the ESG elements,” said Maber. “It is clear that companies operating in the country are keen to start understanding and implementing this standard – if they haven’t already started.”

Looking ahead

Sambwa said the DRC Mining Week emphasised the potentially positive impacts of government efforts to date in trying to optimise the benefits that nearby communities gain from mining operations. This included the social investment of 0,3% of mines’ turnover to community funds, to support upliftment and local economic development.
“Of course, the social benefit is unevenly spread across the country, as it only applies in the mining regions,” he said. “However, the impact can be positive if the arrangement is well managed by skilled professionals, and if there is a high level of transparency in matters such as revenues and contributions.”

bauma 2025 sparks new industry confidence. (Image source: Messe München GmbH)

Despite an increasingly volatile geopolitical climate, supply chain constraints and other challenges, there was a fresh impetus and a spirit of optimism at bauma 2025

Now that the world’s leading trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment is over, what are some of the takeaways for Africa?

In a time characterised by global challenges, bauma 2025 impressively demonstrated what the industry is capable of, as a platform for pioneering innovations, new partnerships and as a source of inspiration going forward.

Mega trends such as sustainability and digitalisation were clear and prevalent across all sectors.

“Sustainability — the sustainable operation of construction machinery and construction sites with the latest drive systems and energy storage solutions — remains an important topic. In addition, there is also the entire area of networked construction sites and networked construction machinery,” remarked Holger Schulz, managing director at Zeppelin (CAT).

Wolfgang Sochor, CEO of HAWE Hydraulik, also highlighted some technology trends.“bauma 2025 has demonstrated that trends such as CO₂ reduction and alternative drives have established themselves in the industry.”

Steffen Günther, a member of the board of directors of Liebherr-International AG, noted, “At bauma, we showcased a number of important future topics, such as drive technology and autonomy. For us, bauma is much more than just a trade fair, it is the platform where the future of the industry is made tangible.”

This year, bauma 2025 attracted 600,000 visitors from more than 200 countries and regions, with some 3,601 exhibitors from 57 nations, underscoring its global significance.

This included a surge in overseas numbers from countries such as Brazil, Portugal, Romania, the Netherlands, Turkey and Spain, as well as China.

Erich Sennebogen, owner of Sennebogen, said that the high level of interest at the event might help to stimulate activity across the construction sector and related industries.

“For this reason, bauma can be a positive stimulus for a revival in the construction industry, as well as in the material handling sectors, both in Germany and internationally.”

Stefan Rummel, CEO of Messe München, the venue for the show, added that it sent a “strong signal of confidence for the entire industry” providing a stable foundation and a forward-looking platform in turbulent times.

The next bauma will be held from 3–9 April, 2028, at the Munich trade fair, Germany.

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