SRK Consulting will be sponsoring and participating at this year’s DRC Mining Week, running from 14-16 June in Lubumbashi, which promises to be the unparalleled meeting place for mining stakeholders and influential decision makers in the DRC and the Copperbelt
According to Susa Maleba, country manager for SRK DRC, the event is always a valuable opportunity to reaffirm SRK’s presence in the county and engage with clients, peers, government and other industry stakeholders.
“In addition to sponsoring the event and learning more about mining companies’ plans and broader trends in the country’s exciting mining sector, we will also be sharing knowledge and insights with clients,” commented Maleba. “This will be done through workshops that we have planned on the side lines of DRC Mining Week, to assist clients in dealing with some of the challenging issues that we identify in our ongoing work.”
Among the topics under the spotlight in these workshops will be: mine closure planning and related social transitioning aspects; water management and water stewardship; and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and sustainability. The workshops will also support SRK’s strategic collaboration between its Congolese, South African and Chinese offices, by engaging the large China-based miners active in the DRC.
Principal environmental scientist and SRK DRC director, Wouter Jordaan, emphasised that SRK has been working with clients in the DRC to move beyond just complying with legal regulations – and to work towards adopting world class reporting and sustainable mining practices.
Jordaan noted, “The mining sector globally has progressed significantly in raising responsible mining standards. Companies in the DRC are moving in this direction as well, and we are leveraging our international experience in working with the local industry to apply these guidelines and standards.”
The event will also provide the opportunity for SRK South Africa’s new managing director, Andrew van Zyl, to meet key role players in the DRC mining sector. Van Zyl will participate in a panel discussion – hosted by Glencore – that will focus on mines’ development plans and the overall impact of sustainable development objectives and corporate responsibilities.
